Project description
Pioneering automated software development with intelligent bots
The challenge in automating software tasks like testing, debugging, and monitoring stems from a lack of computer-readable specifications for inputs and outputs. This problem hinders automated testing and reliable software repairs. The ERC-funded S3 project will tackle this by automatically learning system specifications using advanced research in system input language inference. The project will infer and decode a software system's inputs and outputs by conducting experiments to develop 'system invariants', models that specify software behaviour in full detail. These invariants will enable automatic generation of test inputs, real-time anomaly detection, test results validation, and software behaviour identification. The S3 approach paves the way for software bots to autonomously explore, diagnose, and assist in software development, significantly boosting productivity and enhancing software reliability.
Objective
"*What if we had software bots that tirelessly test, debug, and monitor our software systems?*
IT workers are expensive and scarce. So why can't we further automate boring, repetitive activities such as testing and debugging? The problem is that we lack computer-readable _specifications_ (so-called _oracles_) for what the system should do or not do. For decades, this _oracle problem_ has been a roadblock to automated test generation, trusted software repairs, and accurate monitoring of software.
Building on groundbreaking research to infer input languages of systems, S3 introduces a unified approach to _learning oracles automatically_. It takes a given software system; _infers_ and _decodes_ its inputs and outputs; and runs _experiments_ to extract _models_ of how the system behaves, capturing its semantics by predicting output features for given input features.
These models, named _system invariants_, allow to _fully automate_ critical software development activities:
TESTING. System invariants encode _languages_ for automatically generating test inputs and provide _oracles_ for checking test results: ""In the TLS server, the
DEBUGGING. System invariants allow narrowing down causes of software behavior (""The X.509 public key certificate is not recognized if
MONITORING. System invariants enable detecting abnormal behavior at runtime (""In 'log4j', logging a
In the future, testing, debugging, and monitoring would thus be taken over by _software bots_ who would autonomously explore software behavior, report issues, and suggest actions to their human co-workers, boosting developer productivity and software reliability.
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Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications system software
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
66123 SAARBRUCKEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.