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Publications

Publications by Maria João Frade

2016

Formalizing Single-Assignment Program Verification: An Adaptation-Complete Approach

Authors
Lourenco, CB; Frade, MJ; Pinto, JS;

Publication
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES AND SYSTEMS (ESOP 2016)

Abstract
Deductive verification tools typically rely on the conversion of code to a single-assignment (SA) form. In this paper we formalize program verification based on the translation of While programs annotated with loop invariants into a dynamic single-assignment language with a dedicated iterating construct, and the subsequent generation of compact, indeed linear-size, verification conditions. Soundness and completeness proofs are given for the entire workflow, including the translation of annotated programs to SA form. The formalization is based on a program logic that we show to be adaptation-complete. Although this important property has not, as far as we know, been established for any existing program verification tool, we believe that adaptation-completeness is one of the major motivations for the use of SA form as an intermediate language. Our results here show that indeed this allows for the tools to achieve the maximum degree of adaptation when handling subprograms.

2014

A Bounded Model Checker for SPARK Programs

Authors
Lourenco, CB; Frade, MJ; Pinto, JS;

Publication
AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY FOR VERIFICATION AND ANALYSIS, ATVA 2014

Abstract
This paper discusses the design and implementation of a bounded model checker for SPARK code, and provides a proof of concept of the utility and practicality of bounded verification for SPARK.

2018

A Generalized Approach to Verification Condition Generation

Authors
Lourenço, CB; Frade, MJ; Nakajima, S; Pinto, JS;

Publication
2018 IEEE 42nd Annual Computer Software and Applications Conference, COMPSAC 2018, Tokyo, Japan, 23-27 July 2018, Volume 1

Abstract
In a world where many human lives depend on the correct behavior of software systems, program verification assumes a crucial role. Many verification tools rely on an algorithm that generates verification conditions (VCs) from code annotated with properties to be checked. In this paper, we revisit two major methods that are widely used to produce VCs: predicate transformers (used mostly by deductive verification tools) and the conditional normal form transformation (used in bounded model checking of software). We identify three different aspects in which the methods differ (logical encoding of control flow, use of contexts, and semantics of asserts), and show that, since they are orthogonal, they can be freely combined. This results in six new hybrid verification condition generators (VCGens), which together with the fundamental methods constitute what we call the VCGen cube. We consider two optimizations implemented in major program verification tools and show that each of them can in fact be applied to an entire face of the cube, resulting in optimized versions of the six hybrid VCGens. Finally, we compare all VCGens empirically using a number of benchmarks. Although the results do not indicate absolute superiority of any given method, they do allow us to identify interesting patterns. © 2018 IEEE.

2018

Permutability in proof terms for intuitionistic sequent calculus with cuts

Authors
Santo, JE; Frade, MJ; Pinto, L;

Publication
Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs

Abstract
This paper gives a comprehensive and coherent view on permutability in the intuitionistic sequent calculus with cuts. Specifically we show that, once permutability is packaged into appropriate global reduction procedures, it organizes the internal structure of the system and determines fragments with computational interest, both for the computation-as-proof-normalization and the computation-as-proof-search paradigms. The vehicle of the study is a ?-calculus of multiary proof terms with generalized application, previously developed by the authors (the paper argues this system represents the simplest fragment of ordinary sequent calculus that does not fall into mere natural deduction). We start by adapting to our setting the concept of normal proof, developed by Mints, Dyckhoff, and Pinto, and by defining natural proofs, so that a proof is normal iff it is natural and cut-free. Natural proofs form a subsystem with a transparent Curry- Howard interpretation (a kind of formal vector notation for -terms with vectors consisting of lists of lists of arguments), while searching for normal proofs corresponds to a slight relaxation of focusing (in the sense of LJT). Next, we define a process of permutative conversion to natural form, and show that its combination with cut elimination gives a concept of normalization for the sequent calculus. We derive a systematic picture of the full system comprehending a rich set of reduction procedures (cut elimination, flattening, permutative conversion, normalization, focalization), organizing the relevant subsystems and the important subclasses of cut-free, normal, and focused proofs. © José Espírito Santo, Maria João Frade, and Luís Pinto; licensed under Creative Commons License CC-BY 22nd International Conference on Types for Proofs and Programs (TYPES 2016).

2019

A generalized program verification workflow based on loop elimination and SA form

Authors
Lourenço, CB; Frade, MJ; Pinto, JS;

Publication
Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Formal Methods in Software Engineering, FormaliSE@ICSE 2019, Montreal, QC, Canada, May 27, 2019.

Abstract
This paper presents a minimal model of the functioning of program verification and property checking tools based on (i) the encoding of loops as non-iterating programs, either conservatively, making use of invariants and assume/assert commands, or in a bounded way; and (ii) the use of an intermediate single-assignment (SA) form. The model captures the basic workflow of tools like Boogie, Why3, or CBMC, building on a clear distinction between operational and axiomatic semantics. This allows us to consider separately the soundness of program annotation, loop encoding, translation into SA form, and VC generation, as well as appropriate notions of completeness for each of these processes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first formalization of a bounded model checking of software technique, including soundness and completeness proofs using Hoare logic; we also give the first completeness proof of a deductive verification technique based on a conservative encoding of invariant-annotated loops with assume/assert in SA form, as well as the first soundness proof based on a program logic. © 2019 IEEE.

2023

Variations and interpretations of naturality in call-by-name lambda-calculi with generalized applications

Authors
Santo, JE; Frade, MJ; Pinto, L;

Publication
JOURNAL OF LOGICAL AND ALGEBRAIC METHODS IN PROGRAMMING

Abstract
In the context of intuitionistic sequent calculus, naturality means permutation-freeness (the terminology is essentially due to Mints). We study naturality in the context of the lambda-calculus with generalized applications and its multiary extension, to cover, under the Curry-Howard correspondence, proof systems ranging from natural deduction (with and without general elimination rules) to a fragment of sequent calculus with an iterable left-introduction rule, and which can still be recognized as a call-by-name lambda-calculus. In this context, naturality consists of a certain restricted use of generalized applications. We consider the further restriction obtained by the combination of naturality with normality w.r.t. the commutative conversion engendered by generalized applications. This combination sheds light on the interpretation of naturality as a vectorization mechanism, allowing a multitude of different ways of structuring lambda-terms, and the structuring of a multitude of interesting fragments of the systems under study. We also consider a relaxation of naturality, called weak naturality: this not only brings similar structural benefits, but also suggests a new weak system of natural deduction with generalized applications which is exempt from commutative conversions. In the end, we use all of this evidence as a stepping stone to propose a computational interpretation of generalized application (whether multiary or not, and without any restriction): it includes, alongside the argument(s) for the function, a general list - a new, very general, vectorization mechanism, that structures the continuation of the computation.(c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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