Static Testing:UsingTheWeakestPre-condition
Stc
Date: 2009-06-04
Time: 11:45
Room: BBL room 471
Speaker: Elmar Keij
Title: Static Testing: Using the Weakest Pre-condition (thesis defense)
Abstract
An important aspect of the software process is the validation and verification of software. In practice the most widely used verification method is software testing. However, proper software testing is expensive and labour intensive. One of the reasons for this is that it is often necessary to mimic the runtime behaviour of (parts of) the software. In this thesis an alternative method of testing, called static testing, is proposed. This method prevents the execution of software by incorporating techniques from the field of static verification, such as the weakest pre-condition calculus. Because the software is no longer executed, there is no need to mimic its runtime behaviour. This thesis explores the basic principles and design of this approach. While static testing has potential, it is still far from a practical application.
