Test data as an aid in proving program correctness

  • Authors:
  • Matthew Geller

  • Affiliations:
  • -

  • Venue:
  • POPL '76 Proceedings of the 3rd ACM SIGACT-SIGPLAN symposium on Principles on programming languages
  • Year:
  • 1976

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Proofs of program correctness tend to be long and tedious whereas testing, though useful in detecting errors, usually does not guarantee correctness. This paper introduces a technique whereby test data can be used in proving program correctness. In addition to simplifying certification of correctness, this method simplifies the process of providing specifications for a program. The applicability of this technique to procedures, recursive programs, and modular programs is demonstrated.