From Academia to Tau
Lucca Tiemens, a key developer at Tau, has a journey marked by a deep passion for problem-solving and practical innovation. His path from the Technische Universität Berlin to Tau demonstrates a seamless transition from theoretical research to cutting-edge technology.
Academic Journey
Lucca’s Master’s thesis focused on constructing a balanced transposition Gray code for permutations of order n. Gray codes, named after scientist Frank Gray, originally referred to a method known as the reflected binary code. In the context of permutations, a Gray code is a listing where each successive permutation differs from the previous one by the exchange (or transposition) of exactly two elements. This work, which answered a longstanding question in combinatorics, involved listing permutations such that consecutive permutations differ by the exchange of two elements. Lucca successfully demonstrated that it is possible to create a cyclic Gray code where each transposition appears equally often. This research provided him with a strong foundation in combinatorics and problem-solving, skills he now applies at Tau. Lucca reflects:
“This work taught me how to think about and tackle unsolved problems, a skill that is invaluable in my work at Tau.”
His deep understanding of combinatorial structures directly contributes to his role in implementing decision procedures for the satisfiability of two-variable Fragment with counting formulas, which are deeply combinatorial in nature.”
Passion for Mathematics and Return to Tau
Lucca returned to Tau driven by his love for mathematics and the opportunity to apply his expertise. His fascination with discrete mathematics and type theory, especially in computational contexts, made Tau an ideal environment.
Current Work at Tau
Lucca focuses on implementing logical formalisms and decision procedures, leveraging his background in SAT solvers and integer programming and debugging Tau Language. His role involves deep C++ template programming, crucial for parameterizing the language by Boolean algebras. Debugging can be challenging, but Lucca’s growing familiarity with the codebase and his methodical approach help him tackle these issues effectively.
Lucca collaborates closely with our lead developer David Esteban PhD., who knows Tau Language inside and out. Together, they have enhanced the normalization process of Tau formulas, including improvements in quantifier elimination for atomless Boolean algebras and the implementation of a canonical normalizer for Boolean functions.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Lucca is excited about the evolution of Tau.
“We are still building the programming language. When Tau Language is usable, we will explore how to correctly use it to write computer programs in logic.”
Lucca envisions a future where the knowledge formalized within Tau drives significant advancements in user-driven development and applied logic.
As the project continues to evolve, Lucca’s contributions will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on the project’s success and the broader field of logical programming. His role will adapt and grow with the project, ensuring that Tau remains at the forefront of innovation in software development.
Conclusion
Lucca Tiemens is a pivotal figure at Tau, bringing a blend of academic rigor and practical problem-solving to the team. His contributions are essential to the project’s progress, and his vision for the future aligns perfectly with Tau’s innovative goals.
For more insights into the talented team driving Tau, stay tuned for our next feature.
Thanks,
The Tau Team
