leanprover / leanprover/lean4

Attempting to re-derive `SizeOf` causes panic and kernel errors

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Description

Prerequisites

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Description

Attempting to derive the class SizeOf for a type for which it already exists causes multiple panics and kernel errors.

Context

This issue arose when writing a test for #9371 which attempted to run all registered deriving handlers on a given type.

Steps to Reproduce

Consider the following:

structure Foo where  -- PANIC: duplicate normalized declaration name Foo._sizeOf_1 vs. Foo._sizeOf_1 (+ 5 more)
  deriving SizeOf  -- error: (kernel) constant has already been declared 'Foo._sizeOf_1' (+ 2 more)

inductive Enum where
  | a | b

deriving instance SizeOf for Enum  -- 8 similar panics, 4 similar kernel errors

Expected behavior: Most likely, an error message indicates that this instance cannot be rederived.

Actual behavior: A large number of panics and kernel errors appear, as shown above.

Versions

Lean 4.23.0-nightly-2025-07-21

Additional Information

This is similar to #8258 inasmuch as it is a form of "failing to check environment when auto-generating constant" error.

Impact

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Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the minimal reproducer in the issue: derive SizeOf for Foo and then for Enum, and run it against the latest Lean nightly. Inspect the deriving and auto-generated declaration path implicated by the duplicate Foo._sizeOf_1 errors. Done means the case reports a clear re-derivation error instead of panics or kernel errors.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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