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Specifying C Programs

  • Chapter
Rigorous Software Development

Part of the book series: Undergraduate Topics in Computer Science ((UTICS))

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Abstract

In this chapter we shift the focus of our study to programs written in a realistic programming language. In particular, we focus on the ANSI/ISO C Specification Language (ACSL), which is an annotation language for C programs. ACSL has scope for frame conditions, loop invariants and variants, predicates and logic functions (either defined or specified by axioms), and a state label mechanism.

In the previous chapter we have introduced contracts and the principles of contract-based verification. ACSL adheres to these principles: each C function in a program is annotated with an ACSL specification—the function’s contract. Verification of a program consisting of a number of mutually-recursive functions is completely modular: each function is verified against its own contract, assuming that all other functions are correct. The program is correct if all functions are correct.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Fromhttp://frama-c.com/.

References

  1. Baudin, P., Cuoq, P., Filliâtre, J.-C., Marché, C., Monate, B., Moy, Y., Prevosto, V.: ACSL: ANSI/ISO C Specification Language. CEA LIST and INRIA (2009–2010)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Depto. Informática, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal

    Dr. José Bacelar Almeida & Dr. Jorge Sousa Pinto

  2. Depto. Informática, Universidade Beira Interior, rua Marques d’Avila e Bolama, Covilhã, 6201-001, Portugal

    Dr. Maria João Frade & Dr. Simão Melo de Sousa

Authors
  1. Dr. José Bacelar Almeida
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  2. Dr. Maria João Frade
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  3. Dr. Jorge Sousa Pinto
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  4. Dr. Simão Melo de Sousa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Bacelar Almeida .

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Almeida, J.B., Frade, M.J., Pinto, J.S., Melo de Sousa, S. (2011). Specifying C Programs. In: Rigorous Software Development. Undergraduate Topics in Computer Science. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-018-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-018-2_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-017-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-018-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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