Rocq

Rocq is a proof assistant for formal mathematics and software specifications, best suited to researchers, educators and developers prepared to work with machine-checked proofs. Its small certification kernel and program extraction make it a serious choice when correctness matters more than a conventional development workflow.

Overview

Rocq brings mathematical reasoning and software verification into one environment: users express definitions and specifications in Gallina, then construct proofs that the kernel checks. That relatively small checking core is a meaningful strength for teams that need confidence in mechanised artifacts, though proof development itself calls for specialist knowledge rather than ordinary application-development skills.

The project dates to 1984 and has had more than 200 contributors. It is implemented in OCaml, distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public Licence Version 2.1, and deployed self-hosted rather than as a hosted service.

Key features

Proof development and automation: Interactive methods, decision and semi-decision algorithms, and a tactic language let users build and define proof procedures. This flexibility suits varied formal reasoning tasks, but it does not remove the need to understand the underlying mathematics and proof process.

Certified program extraction: Rocq can extract programs to OCaml, Haskell or Scheme, linking proof work to executable code in those languages.

Connections to other tools: Integrations with external computer algebra systems and theorem provers can complement Rocq in workflows that use more than one formal tool.

Editor choices: The official VsRocq extension supports Visual Studio Code; Rocq LSP, VsCoq Legacy, Proof General, Coqtail and RocqIDE provide other editor or IDE options. This range offers flexibility, while users should choose an integration suited to their editor and setup.

Pricing

Rocq Prover costs nothing, with no free-trial distinction to weigh against a paid tier. The free plan includes the interactive theorem prover and dependently typed programming language under the LGPL Version 2.1. There are no cheaper plans with reduced features or paid upgrades to compare; the main commitment is running and maintaining the self-hosted toolchain.

Platforms

The Rocq Platform bundles the core prover with libraries and plugins, aiming to provide a dependable, comprehensive, operating-system-independent installation. Its scripts install Rocq and packages on macOS, Windows and many Linux distributions, and precompiled installers are provided for macOS and Windows. Linux users can install through scripts, but there is no Rocq Platform binary installer for Linux, making setup less direct for those who prefer a packaged installer.

Rocq is also available as a Docker image. For editing, the official VsRocq extension supports Visual Studio Code, with additional integrations including RocqIDE, Proof General, Coqtail, Rocq LSP and VsCoq Legacy.

Who it's for

Rocq is aimed at people developing or teaching formal proofs, especially in mathematics and computer science, and at software developers who need to specify programs and prove they meet those specifications. It is a strong fit when machine-checked correctness and the ability to extract certified code are central requirements. It is not the natural choice for someone seeking a conventional, turnkey app-development environment or a hosted service.

Pros and cons

Pro: A relatively small certification kernel checks proofs, supporting strong guarantees for mechanised work.

Pro: The same environment supports mathematical proofs, formal specifications and extraction to three programming languages.

Pro: The free LGPL release and broad editor integrations make it usable across varied self-hosted setups.

Con: Linux has no binary Platform installer, so installation relies on scripts rather than a precompiled package.

Con: Rocq is a specialist proof environment; its flexibility comes with the need to learn Gallina and proof-development methods.

Con: Self-hosted deployment means users manage their own installation and environment.

Alternatives

For other formal verification tools, browse Formal Verification Tools. Consider PVS if you want a free option for noncommercial use; commercial use has custom pricing, and its Allegro runtime requires accepting a click-through license. Z3 may suit readers seeking a free, MIT-licensed tool with Android, API, web and self-hosted platform options. Choose HOL4 for a free tool under the Modified (3-clause) BSD licence, or Alloy Analyzer for a free, self-contained executable.

NuSMV is another free, LGPL v2.1 option. UPPAAL offers a free academic license for eligible non-commercial academic use. CBMC is free open-source software under the 4-clause BSD license, while Isabelle is free under open-source licenses with its main code-base subject to BSD-style regulations.

Verdict

Choose Rocq if your work calls for machine-checked mathematical proofs or verified program specifications, particularly when extracting certified code is useful. Its small kernel, flexible proof methods and free LGPL distribution make a compelling combination; look elsewhere if you need a hosted service or a precompiled Linux Platform installer.