22.5 The homotopy category
Our homotopies take into account the $A$-module structure and the grading, but not the differential (of course).
Definition 22.5.1. Let $(A, \text{d})$ be a differential graded algebra. Let $f, g : M \to N$ be homomorphisms of differential graded $A$-modules. A homotopy between $f$ and $g$ is an $A$-module map $h : M \to N$ such that
$h(M^ n) \subset N^{n - 1}$ for all $n$, and
$f(x) - g(x) = \text{d}_ N(h(x)) + h(\text{d}_ M(x))$ for all $x \in M$.
If a homotopy exists, then we say $f$ and $g$ are homotopic.
Thus $h$ is compatible with the $A$-module structure and the grading but not with the differential. If $f = g$ and $h$ is a homotopy as in the definition, then $h$ defines a morphism $h : M \to N[-1]$ in $\text{Mod}_{(A, \text{d})}$.
Lemma 22.5.2. Let $(A, \text{d})$ be a differential graded algebra. Let $f, g : L \to M$ be homomorphisms of differential graded $A$-modules. Suppose given further homomorphisms $a : K \to L$, and $c : M \to N$. If $h : L \to M$ is an $A$-module map which defines a homotopy between $f$ and $g$, then $c \circ h \circ a$ defines a homotopy between $c \circ f \circ a$ and $c \circ g \circ a$.
Proof.
Immediate from Homology, Lemma 12.13.7.
$\square$
This lemma allows us to define the homotopy category as follows.
Definition 22.5.3. Let $(A, \text{d})$ be a differential graded algebra. The homotopy category, denoted $K(\text{Mod}_{(A, \text{d})})$, is the category whose objects are the objects of $\text{Mod}_{(A, \text{d})}$ and whose morphisms are homotopy classes of homomorphisms of differential graded $A$-modules.
The notation $K(\text{Mod}_{(A, \text{d})})$ is not standard but at least is consistent with the use of $K(-)$ in other places of the Stacks project.
Lemma 22.5.4. Let $(A, \text{d})$ be a differential graded algebra. The homotopy category $K(\text{Mod}_{(A, \text{d})})$ has direct sums and products.
Proof.
Omitted. Hint: Just use the direct sums and products as in Lemma 22.4.2. This works because we saw that these functors commute with the forgetful functor to the category of graded $A$-modules and because $\prod $ is an exact functor on the category of families of abelian groups.
$\square$
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