arXiv2026
In this paper, we develop an abstract theory of derivatives for Banach spaces based on objects that we call \emph{bidual assignments}. This framework encompasses both the Semadeni derivative and the recently introduced Semadeni--Pełczyński derivative. More generally, suitable ideals of subsets of dual spaces give rise to a broad family of derivatives within this setting. We establish direct-sum and tensor-product formulas for these derivatives, showing that they behave naturally with respect to direct sums and injective tensor products. We then obtain explicit descriptions of derivatives associated with compact trees and finite products of compact lines. In particular, we compute iterated derivatives and use them to derive isomorphic invariants for vector-valued spaces of continuous functions. As one consequence, if $K=\prod_{i=1}^n K_i$ and $L=\prod_{j=1}^m L_j$, where $n,m\geq1$ and all the factors are compact lines of uncountable character, then, for $1\leq p,q<\infty$, \[ C(K,\ell_p)\sim C(L,\ell_q) \] implies that $n=m$ and $p=q$. We also establish classification results for spaces of the form $C(K^n,X)$. In particular, for uncountable ordinals $α$ and $β$, an integer $n\geq1$, and Banach spaces $X$ satisfying suitable rigidity assumptions, we prove that \[ C([0,α]^n,X)\sim C([0,β]^n,X) \quad\text{if and only if}\quad C([0,α])\sim C([0,β]). \] This extends Kislyakov's classification of the spaces $C([0,α])$ and its vector-valued extension due to Galego to finite powers of ordinal intervals.