Parisian Master of Research in Computer Science
Master Parisien de Recherche en Informatique (MPRI)

Basics of Verification (60h, 6 ECTS)

In charge: Stefan Schwoon (LSV, ENS Cachan).

Lecturers in 2018—2019

Language

The default language is French.
But the lectures may be given in English if attended by non French-speaking students.

Motivations and main objectives

Nowadays, it is of the highest importance to use formal methods in order to increase the reliability of critical systems.
In this introductory course on verification of discrete systems, we concentrate in particular on model checking techniques.
We will describe various models used to define systems: transition systems enriched with various data structures (variables, channels, ...) and which can be composed with several synchronization mechanisms.
We will also cover specification languages that are used to express properties to be checked on our systems: temporal logics (linear or branching), first-order or monadic second-order logic, ...
We will study expressivity, decidability and complexity properties of our models and specification languages.
We will also cover abstraction/refinement techniques and (bi)simulation relations used to relate various abstraction levels.
Algorithmic aspects of model checking will be investigated and we will stress efficient techniques such as binary decision diagrams (BDDs) or bounded model checking.

Detailed description and Lecture notes
Date Topics covered Documents
2018/09/20 Introduction & motivation
Models: Transition systems (Kripke structures), variables, synchronized products, Rendez-vous,
shared variables, atomicity, asynchronous communication, FIFO channels
Slides
Homework1
Exercises
2018/09/27 Specification: introduction, linear vs branching specifications, first-order vs temporal logics
Linear temporal logics: definitions, examples, model checking
Slides
Homework2
Exercises
2018/10/04 Branching specifications, MSO, CTL*, CTL: definitions, examples, model checking Slides
Homework3
Exercises
2018/10/11 PTIME Model checking algorithm for CTL and for CTL with fairness
Büchi automata: definition and first examples
Slides
Homework4
Exercises
2018/10/18 Büchi automata: main properties, generalized acceptance, unambiguity
Sequential Büchi transducers: definition and examples
Sequential Büchi transducer for basic LTL formulas
Construction of a sequential Büchi transducer for an arbitrary LTL formula
Slides
Homework5
Exercises
2018/10/25 Satisfiability and Model checking for LTL: decidability and complexity
PSPACE model checking algorithm for CTL*
Temporal logics: Expressivity, Ehrenfeucht-Fraïssé games, Separation
Slides
Homework6
Exercises
2018/11/15 Büchi emptiness check Slides
Homework7
Exercises
2018/11/22 Partial-order reduction Slides
Homework8
Exercises
2018/11/29 Binary decision diagrams Slides
Homework9
Exercises
2018/12/06 Petri nets Slides
Homework10
Exercises
2018/12/13 Petri nets Slides
Homework11
Exercises
2018/12/20 Petri nets, Pushdown systems Slides
Homework12
Exercises
2019/01/10 Pushdown systems, Abstraction/refinement Slides
Homework9
Exercises

Exams

This years's mid-term exam:

Final exam: January 17, 2019, 14h-16h. All course materials can be used.

Last years's subjects for mid-term exams: 2017 subject 2016 subject, 2016 with solutions, 2015, 2014.

Final exams 2016-2017: subject, solutions

Final exams 2017-2018: subject, solutions

Prerequisites

Finite Automata
First-order logic

Related courses

Bibliography

  • Ph. Schnoebelen. The Complexity of Temporal Logic Model Checking. In AiML’02, pages 393-436. King’s College Publication, 2003. Invited paper.
  • Principles of Model Checking. Christel Baier and Joost-Pieter Katoen. MIT Press, 2008.
  • Systems and Software Verification. Model-Checking Techniques and Tools. B. Bérard, M. Bidoit, A. Finkel, F. Laroussinie, A. Petit, L. Petrucci, Ph. Schnoebelen. Springer, 2001.
    Also available in french: Vérification de logiciels : Techniques et outils du model checking. Coordonné par Ph. Schnoebelen. Vuibert, 1999.
  • Model Checking. E.M. Clarke, O. Grumberg, D. Peled. MIT Press, 1999.
  • Temporal Verification of Reactive Systems - Safety. Zohar Manna and Amir Pnueli. Springer-Verlag, 1995.
  • The Temporal Logic of Reactive and Concurrent Systems - Specification. Zohar Manna and Amir Pnueli. Springer-Verlag, 1992.

Teachers

Paul GastinPRENS Paris-SaclayLSV
Stefan SchwoonMCENS Paris-SaclayLSV
Marie FortinPhDENS Paris-SaclayLSV

Previous Years

 
Universités partenaires Université Paris-Diderot
Université Paris-Saclay
ENS Cachan École polytechnique Télécom ParisTech
ENS
Établissements associés Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie CNRS INRIA CEA