This paper describes the symbolic execution of programs. Instead of supplying the normal inputs to a program (e.g. numbers) one supplies symbols representing arbitrary values. The execution proceeds as in a normal execution except that values may be symbolic formulas over the input symbols. The difficult, yet interesting issues arise during the symbolic execution of conditional branch type statements. A particular system called EFFIGY which provides symbolic execution for program testing and debugging is also described. It interpretively executes programs written in a simple PL/I style programming language. It includes many standard debugging features, the ability to manage and to prove things about symbolic expressions, a simple program testing manager, and a program verifier. A brief discussion of the relationship between symbolic execution and program proving is also included.

/pdf/symbolic-execution-and-program-testing-319yo45alh.pdf

Symbolic execution and program testing

Extended static checking (ESC) is a static program analysis technique that attempts to find common programming errors like null-dereferences, array index bounds errors, type cast errors, deadlocks, and race conditions. An ESC tool is powered by program verification technology, yet it feels to the programmer like a type checker because of the limited ambition of finding only certain kinds of errors. This talk reports on some of the research results of and the current state of the Extended Static Checking project at DEC SRC.

/pdf/extended-static-checking-2x0mbg95hj.pdf

Extended static checking

SELECT is an experimental system for assisting in the formal systematic debugging of programs. It is intended to be a compromise between an automated program proving system and the current ad hoc debugging practice, and is similar to a system being developed by King et al. of IBM. SELECT systematically handles the paths of programs written in a LISP subset that includes arrays. For each execution path SELECT returns simplified conditions on input variables that cause the path to be executed, and simplified symbolic values for program variables at the path output. For conditions which form a system of linear equalities and inequalities SELECT will return input variable values that can serve as sample test data. The user can insert constraint conditions, at any point in the program including the output, in the form of symbolically executable assertions. These conditions can induce the system to select test data in user-specified regions. SELECT can also determine if the path is correct with respect to an output assertion. We present four examples demonstrating the various modes of system operation and their effectiveness in finding bugs. In some examples, SELECT was successful in automatically finding useful test data. In others, user interaction was required in the form of output assertions. SELECT appears to be a useful tool for rapidly revealing program errors, but for the future there is a need to expand its expressive and deductive power.

SELECT—a formal system for testing and debugging programs by symbolic execution

SELECT---a formal system for testing and debugging programs by symbolic execution

A new algorithm is presented for determining which, if any, of an arbitrary number of candidates has received a majority of the votes cast in an election The number of comparisons required is at most twice the number of votes Furthermore, the algorithm uses storage in a way that permits an efficient use of magnetic tape A Fortran version of the algorithm is exhibited The Fortran code has been proved correct by a mechanical verification system for Fortran The system and the proof are discussed

MJRTY—A Fast Majority Vote Algorithm

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A program verifier

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Symbolic execution and program testing

Extended static checking

SELECT—a formal system for testing and debugging programs by symbolic execution

SELECT---a formal system for testing and debugging programs by symbolic execution

MJRTY—A Fast Majority Vote Algorithm

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