Principles of Model Checking [Hardcover]

Christel Baier (Author), Joost-Pieter Katoen (Author), Kim Guldstrand Larsen (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2008 | ISBN-10: 026202649X | ISBN-13: 978-0262026499

A comprehensive introduction to the foundations of model checking, a fully automated technique for finding flaws in hardware and software; with extensive examples and both practical and theoretical exercises.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Our growing dependence on increasingly complex computer and software systems necessitates the development of formalisms, techniques, and tools for assessing functional properties of these systems. One such technique that has emerged in the last twenty years is model checking, which systematically (and automatically) checks whether a model of a given system satisfies a desired property such as deadlock freedom, invariants, and request-response properties. This automated technique for verification and debugging has developed into a mature and widely used approach with many applications. Principles of Model Checking offers a comprehensive introduction to model checking that is not only a text suitable for classroom use but also a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners in the field. The book begins with the basic principles for modeling concurrent and communicating systems, introduces different classes of properties (including safety and liveness), presents the notion of fairness, and provides automata-based algorithms for these properties. It introduces the temporal logics LTL and CTL, compares them, and covers algorithms for verifying these logics, discussing real-time systems as well as systems subject to random phenomena. Separate chapters treat such efficiency-improving techniques as abstraction and symbolic manipulation. The book includes an extensive set of examples (most of which run through several chapters) and a complete set of basic results accompanied by detailed proofs. Each chapter concludes with a summary, bibliographic notes, and an extensive list of exercises of both practical and theoretical nature.Christel Baier is Professor and Chair for Algebraic and Logical Foundations of Computer Science in the Faculty of Computer Science at the Technical University of Dresden. Joost-Pieter Katoen is Professor at the RWTH Aachen University and leads the Software Modeling and Verification Group within the Department of Computer Science. He is affiliated with the Formal Methods and Tools Group at the University of Twente.

"This book offers one of the most comprehensive introductions to logic model checking techniques available today. The authors have found a way to explain both basic concepts and foundational theory thoroughly and in crystal clear prose. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about this important new field, or brush up on their knowledge of the current state of the art."--Gerard J. Holzmann, NASA/JPL Laboratory for Reliable Software

(Gerard J. Holzmann )

"Principles of Model Checking, by two principals of model-checkingresearch, offers an extensive and thorough coverage of the state of artin computer-aided verification. With its coverage of timed and probabilistic systems, the reader gets a textbook exposition of some ofthe most advanced topics in model-checking research. Obviously, one cannot expect to cover this heavy volume in a regular graduate course; rather, one can base several graduate courses on this book, which belongs on the bookshelf of every model-checking researcher."--Moshe Vardi, Director, Computer and Information Technology Institute, Rice University

(Moshe Y. Vardi )

" Principles of Model Checking, by two principals of model-checking research, offers an extensive and thorough coverage of the state of art in computer-aided verification. With its coverage of timed and probabilistic systems, the reader gets a textbook exposition of some of the most advanced topics in model-checking research. Obviously, one cannot expect to cover this heavy volume in a regular graduate course; rather, one can base several graduate courses on this book, which belongs on the bookshelf of every model-checking researcher." Moshe Vardi , Director, Computer and Information Technology Institute, Rice University

"This book offers one of the most comprehensive introductions to logic model checking techniques available today. The authors have found a way to explain both basic concepts and foundational theory thoroughly and in crystal clear prose. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about this important new field, or brush up on their knowledge of the current state of the art." Gerard J. Holzmann , NASA/JPL Laboratory for Reliable Software

About the Author

"This is an impressive piece of work....The book can be used as a kind of reference manual for the classical basis of model checking for lecturers, who will be able to select some parts in order to construct a coherent and complete lecture on automatic verification; and of course for students, who will find many explanations, motivations, examples, and proofs to help them discover this very active research area." François Laroussinie The Computer Journal

Christel Baier is Professor and Chair for Algebraic and Logical Foundations of Computer Science in the Faculty of Computer Science at the Technical University of Dresden.

Joost-Pieter Katoen is Professor at the RWTH Aachen University and leads the Software Modeling and Verification Group within the Department of Computer Science. He is affiliated with the Formal Methods and Tools Group at the University of Twente.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 984 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (April 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 026202649X
• ISBN-13: 978-0262026499
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #794,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction to Model Checking, November 8, 2008

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James Vogel "The difference between genius an... (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Principles of Model Checking (Hardcover)

I used this book in an introduction to model checking class and found it to be very thorough and relatively readable, given the nature of the material.

The examples are generally clear and illustrative; which is a huge benefit given the mathematical nature of the material.

This book definitely qualifies as being of a theoretical bent and there is a LOT of material covered in its 975 pages.

If you are more interested in exploring the practical side of model checking, or would simply prefer a programming book to a math book I would recommend: 'Principles of the Spin Model Checker' by Ben-Ari.