  SOFT ('Second-Order Functions and Theorems') is a tool to mimic second-order
functions and theorems in the first-order logic of ACL2. Second-order functions
are mimicked by first-order functions that reference explicitly designated
uninterpreted functions that mimic function variables. First-order theorems
over these second-order functions mimic second-order theorems universally
quantified over function variables. Instances of second-order functions and
theorems are systematically generated by replacing function variables with
functions. SOFT can be used to carry out program refinement inside ACL2, by
constructing a sequence of increasingly stronger second-order predicates over
one or more target functions: the sequence starts with a predicate that
specifies requirements for the target functions, and ends with a predicate that
provides executable definitions for the target functions.
