Constructive design of a hierarchy of semantics of a transition system by abstract interpretation

  • Authors:
  • Patrick Cousot

  • Affiliations:
  • École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France

  • Venue:
  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

We construct a hierarchy of semantics by successive abstract interpretations. Starting from the maximal trace semantics of a transition system, we derive the big-step semantics, termination and nontermination semantics, Plotkin's natural, Smyth's demoniac and Hoare's angelic relational semantics and equivalent nondeterministic denotational semantics (with alternative powerdomains to the Egli-Milner and Smyth constructions), D. Scott's deterministic denotational semantics, the generalized and Dijkstra's conservative/liberal predicate transformer semantics, the generalized/total and Hoare's partial correctness axiomatic semantics and the corresponding proof methods. All the semantics are presented in a uniform fixpoint form and the correspondences between these semantics are established through composable Galois connections, each semantics being formally calculated by abstract interpretation of a more concrete one using Kleene and/or Tarski fixpoint approximation transfer theorems. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.