Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2021
This paper surveys recent work on applying analysis and transformation techniques that originate in the field of constraint logic programming (CLP) to the problem of verifying software systems. We present specialization-based techniques for translating verification problems for different programming languages, and in general software systems, into satisfiability problems for constrained Horn clauses (CHCs), a term that has become popular in the verification field to refer to CLP programs. Then, we describe static analysis techniques for CHCs that may be used for inferring relevant program properties, such as loop invariants. We also give an overview of some transformation techniques based on specialization and fold/unfold rules, which are useful for improving the effectiveness of CHC satisfiability tools. Finally, we discuss future developments in applying these techniques.
Research partially funded by Spanish MICINN 2019-108528RB-C21 ProCode project, the Madrid M141047003 N-GREENS and P2018/TCS-4339 BLOQUES-CM programs, and the Tezos Foundation.
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