Course syllabus - Formal verification of reactive systems

Objectives

 
Software verification and validation focus on detecting possible bugs in the software prior to its implementation, which is crucial to industry.  The aim of the course is to introduce the students into methods and tools for verifying systems that need to react to external stimuli. The methods use system models with precise formal semantics and will span contract-based verification, model-checking as well as deductive verification. Students will learn some of the theories of formal verification, and how to use tool support in order to verify system models as well as programs.
 
 
 
 
 

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to:

1.  describe how formal modelling languages can be applied to model systems
2.  model discrete and real-time systems using finite state automata and timed automata
3.  specify simple system requirements in temporal logics
4.  describe the principles used to verify models in model-checking and deductive verification
5.  describe the principles of contract-based verification of programs
6.  apply tools to model and verify discrete systems and real-time systems
7.  apply contract-based tools to verify software programs (e.g., in C)
 
 
 
 

Course content

The course will cover the following topics: transition systems, modal logics, modeling, verification by model-checking, deductive formal verification, and contract-based verification of programs. Examples of tools that will be used in the course are: UPPAAL, PVS, VCC, Dafny etc.
 
 

Tuition

Lectures (web-based).

Specific requirements

120 credits, of which 80 hp in engineering or informatics, including at least 30 credits in computer science or software development.
In addition, at least 18 months of documented work experience in software development or related areas. In addition, Swedish course B/Swedish course 3 and English course A/English course 6 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course B/Swedish course 3.

Examination

Written assignment (INL1), 2,5 credits, (examines the learning objectives 1 and 2), Marks Fail (U) or Pass(G)
Written assignment (INL2), 2,5 credits, (examines the learning objectives 3, 4, and 6), Marks Fail (U) or Pass(G)
Written assignment (INL3), 2,5 credits, (examines the learning objectives 5 and 7), Marks Fail (U) or Pass(G)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps with 2,5 credits towards the course Advanced Validation and Verification 7,5 credits.