A tool for the automatic generation of logical models of order-sorted first-order theories

Abstract

Semantics-based program analysis guarantees that the obtained knowledge about focused program features matches the real behaviour of the program. Automation of the analyses requires abstraction mechanisms to approximate the (usually undecidable) program semantics and targeted properties. In this setting, the logical notions of interpretation of a logic language and model of a theory provide an appropriate framework for abstraction in the sense that the corresponding analyses will be sound and, when relying on some decidable theory, amenable for automation. We describe a new tool, AGES, which is able to automatically generate models for order-sorted first-order theories. Such theories are very helpful in the semantic description of most programming languages. The current version of the tool systematically exploits (and relies on) the recently introduced convex domains which are well-suited for representing domains for different sorts; we use them to interpret the ranked symbols of order-sorted signatures and also the (also ranked) predicate symbols in the language by means of appropriately adapted convex matrix interpretations. The system is available as a web application and can be used to give support to users interested in checking properties of software modules provided that they are able to describe the property as an order-sorted first-order theory whose satisfiability guarantees the property. Examples of such properties are partial correctness, program termination, etc. The paper illustrates the use of the tool by means of simple case studies.