zheng reference

precise definitions, parameters, APIs, and constraint costs for each component zheng implements. these pages answer "what exactly is X" — the spec you consult when implementing or auditing.

for intuition, motivation, and learning paths see docs/explanation. for the FRI→STIR→WHIR evolution (historical context, not implemented) see fri-to-whir.

what zheng implements

whir — Weights Help Improving Rate. multilinear PCS with sub-millisecond verification

sumcheck — interactive proof reducing exponential sums to one evaluation

superspartan — IOP for Customizable Constraint Systems (CCS) via sumcheck

polynomial-commitment — commit-then-open primitive, WHIR instantiation over Goldilocks

proof pipeline

whirlaway — Whirlaway architecture spec: SuperSpartan IOP + WHIR PCS composition, protocol, cost model

transcript — Fiat-Shamir transcript construction, domain separation, sponge protocol

constraints — AIR constraint format, pattern table, CCS encoding, constraint budgets

verifier — standalone verifier algorithm, cost breakdown, nox pattern decomposition

recursion — recursive composition protocol, tree/fold/DAG topologies, depth bounds

api — prover/verifier/fold interface, data types, usage patterns