Introduction and objectives

This course provides an introduction to formal techniques to verify computer systems based on models (model checking).

The official plan of this course is hosted in FCUP here.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should:

• understand the importance of using logic and formal methods in the development of complex computer systems; and
• be able to model simple systems and specify properties using temporal logics.

Syllabus

• Introdução ao model checking
• Modelação de sistemas paralelos: sistemas transição
• Paralelismo e comunicação com álgebras de processos
• Equivalências de sistemas de transição
• Ferramenta: mCRL2 (modelação)
• Lógicas dinâmicas (e relação com equivalências)
• Ferramenta: mCRL2 (verificação)
• Modelos de tempo real
• Ferramenta: Uppaal (modelação)
• Lógicas temporais: linear (LTL) e ramificada (CTL)
• Ferramenta: Uppaal (verificação)
• Introdução a modelos probabilísticos e estocásticos
• Ferramenta: Uppaal (simulações e PLTL)

Lectures

• 18 Sep ‘25: Overview of the module and introduction to model checking (Slides 1-intro.pdf). Transition systems with functors; syntax of sequential process algebra (slides 2-behaviour, frames 1-11)
• 25 Sep ‘25: Syntax and semantics of CCS (slides 2-behaviour, 11-20). Modelling in mCRL2 (slides 3-mCRL2, 1-12). Starting the tutorial “hands-on” with mCRL2.
• 2 Oct ‘25: No lesson due to an ongoing scientific event.
• 9 Oct ‘25: Continuing the tutorial “hands-on” with mCRL2. Equivalence of transition systems (slides 2-behaviour, frames 13-38).
• 16 Oct ‘25: Modal logics (slides 4-modal-logic.pdf. Exercises: specifying and explaining concrete formulas in process logic; (slides 4-modal-logic.pdf, frames 1-22).
• 23 Oct ‘25: More exercises on process logic; process logic with regular expressions (slides 4-modal-logic.pdf, frames 22-26). Modal logic in mCRL2 (slides 3-mCRL2; Process logic vs. bisimulations (slides 4-modal-logic.pdf, frames 28-45).

Literature and Material

Slides

1. Introduction to the course
2. Transition systems and CCS
3. mCRL2 tool
4. Modal logic
5. Timed automata: modelling
6. TBA

Main book

• Principles of model checking., Christel Baier and Joost-Pieter Katoen; ISBN: 978-0-262-02649-9

Extra material

• mCRL2 tutorial exercises
• 1st assignment on mCRL2

Complementary Bibliography

• mCRL2 Tutorial, available from mCRL2’s website
• Uppaal SMC Tutorial, available from Uppaal’s website

Lecturer

• • 
  • • José Proença
    • • DCC 1.69
      • jose.proenca(at)fc.up.pt
      • meet: thu afternoon (email before)

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