Manual Model Checking

Manual model checking is a formal verification technique where a human systematically examines a mathematical model of a system to verify its properties, such as safety or liveness, against a specification. It involves manually exploring the state space or using proof techniques like induction to check if the model satisfies logical formulas, often expressed in temporal logics like CTL or LTL. This method is used to ensure correctness in critical systems where automated tools might be infeasible or to complement automated verification.

Also known as: Manual Verification, Formal Manual Checking, Hand-Checked Model Verification, Human-Driven Model Checking, Manual State Space Exploration

Why learn Manual Model Checking?

Developers should learn manual model checking when working on safety-critical systems like aerospace, medical devices, or financial software, where rigorous verification is essential to prevent failures. It is particularly useful in early design phases or for small, complex models where automated model checking tools face state explosion problems, allowing for deep insight into system behavior. This skill helps in creating reliable specifications and understanding formal methods, which can improve overall software quality and compliance with standards like DO-178C or ISO 26262.

Learning Resources

• book: Model Checking by Edmund M. Clarke et al. (Book)
• tutorial: Introduction to Formal Methods and Model Checking (Tutorial)
• docs: Manual Model Checking Techniques (Documentation)
• video: Formal Verification in Practice (Video Lecture)