Towards safer and more reliable, relevant and secure computer systems
Inspections, walkthroughs and other reviews aim at ensuring that the results of each step in software development correctly embrace the intentions of the previous step. Testing in the sense of executing the software is only one of multiple techniques used in computer system verification. Systematic computer system verification helps prevent software problems from reaching the production environment. The EU-funded MEALS (Mobility between Europe and Argentina applying logics to systems) project proposed a mathematical approach to analyse systems at early development stages. Project partners developed rigorous mathematics-based tools and techniques to describe any computer system and assist in its design. These include tools to model and analyse system types such as embedded controllers, distributed systems and web services. This was done to examine fundamental properties related to various existing essential features, including functional correctness, security issues, performance profiles and fault tolerance. By verifying the key aspects through such tools, the MEALS demonstrated that the system design matches the desired specification. These tools and techniques help to reveal incorrect designs before any major investment is made. More than 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers presented project outcomes in peer-reviewed journals, international conferences and workshops. Knowledge transfer, community building and diffusion activities relating to the specification, verification and synthesis of dependable ubiquitous computing systems were carried out through meetings, workshops and dissemination events. In addition, 213 transatlantic research visits were conducted. Thanks to MEALS, the industrial use of formal verification techniques will be extended, considerably enhancing the quality of future developed software.
Keywords
Computer systems, software development, computer system verification, MEALS
