Model Checking, second edition

Book excerpt: An expanded and updated edition of a comprehensive presentation of the theory and practice of model checking, a technology that automates the analysis of complex systems. Model checking is a verification technology that provides an algorithmic means of determining whether an abstract model—representing, for example, a hardware or software design—satisfies a formal specification expressed as a temporal logic formula. If the specification is not satisfied, the method identifies a counterexample execution that shows the source of the problem. Today, many major hardware and software companies use model checking in practice, for verification of VLSI circuits, communication protocols, software device drivers, real-time embedded systems, and security algorithms. This book offers a comprehensive presentation of the theory and practice of model checking, covering the foundations of the key algorithms in depth. The field of model checking has grown dramatically since the publication of the first edition in 1999, and this second edition reflects the advances in the field. Reorganized, expanded, and updated, the new edition retains the focus on the foundations of temporal logic model while offering new chapters that cover topics that did not exist in 1999: propositional satisfiability, SAT-based model checking, counterexample-guided abstraction refinement, and software model checking. The book serves as an introduction to the field suitable for classroom use and as an essential guide for researchers.