Maria João Frade – författare

The use of mathematical methods in the development of software is essential when reliable systems are sought; in particular they are now strongly recommended by the official norms adopted in the production of critical software. Program Verification is the area of computer science that studies mathematical methods for checking that a program conforms to its specification. This text is a self-contained introduction to program verification using logic-based methods, presented in the broader context of formal methods for software engineering.The idea of specifying the behaviour of individual software components by attaching contracts to them is now a widely followed approach in program development, which has given rise notably to the development of a number of behavioural interface specification languages and program verification tools. A foundation for the static verification of programs based on contract-annotated routines is laid out in the book. These can be independently verified, which provides a modular approach to the verification of software.The text assumes only basic knowledge of standard mathematical concepts that should be familiar to any computer science student. It includes a self-contained introduction to propositional logic and first-order reasoning with theories, followed by a study of program verification that combines theoretical and practical aspects - from a program logic (a variant of Hoare logic for programs containing user-provided annotations) to the use of a realistic tool for the verification of C programs (annotated using the ACSL specification language), through the generation of verification conditions and the static verification of runtime errors.

The use of mathematical methods in the development of software is essential when reliable systems are sought; in particular they are now strongly recommended by the official norms adopted in the production of critical software. Program Verification is the area of computer science that studies mathematical methods for checking that a program conforms to its specification. This text is a self-contained introduction to program verification using logic-based methods, presented in the broader context of formal methods for software engineering.The idea of specifying the behaviour of individual software components by attaching contracts to them is now a widely followed approach in program development, which has given rise notably to the development of a number of behavioural interface specification languages and program verification tools. A foundation for the static verification of programs based on contract-annotated routines is laid out in the book. These can be independently verified, which provides a modular approach to the verification of software.The text assumes only basic knowledge of standard mathematical concepts that should be familiar to any computer science student. It includes a self-contained introduction to propositional logic and first-order reasoning with theories, followed by a study of program verification that combines theoretical and practical aspects - from a program logic (a variant of Hoare logic for programs containing user-provided annotations) to the use of a realistic tool for the verification of C programs (annotated using the ACSL specification language), through the generation of verification conditions and the static verification of runtime errors.

Software errors can lead to catastrophic consequences, from financial losses to threats to human safety. As a result, rigorous methods for software development and validation have become increasingly critical. Program verification, a key area of formal methods, provides mathematical tools and techniques to ensure that software behaves as intended. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to program verification, combining theoretical foundations with practical applications using real-world tools. It offers a self-contained overview of propositional logic and first-order reasoning with theories, followed by a study of Hoare-style program logic with annotations and the generation of verification conditions. The use of Frama-C’s WP plug-in for verifying C programs annotated with the ACSL specification language, including safety properties, is also covered. This revised and expanded second edition incorporates recent advances in formal methods and program verification, integrating new techniques, tools, and exercises to equip readers with the skills necessary for rigorous software development.Rigorous Software Development is ideal for computer science students, researchers in formal methods, and software engineers seeking a deeper understanding of program verification techniques and tools. It equips readers with the knowledge needed to apply rigorous methods in practice while providing a solid foundation for the evolving landscape of modern software engineering.