TLA+ | The way to specify» Projects http://www.tlaplus.net The TLA+ and PlusCal Resource Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:26:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Coming soon: TLA+ Toolbox http://www.tlaplus.net/posts/2009/08/coming-soon-tla-toolbox/ http://www.tlaplus.net/posts/2009/08/coming-soon-tla-toolbox/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:07:17 +0000 Simon Zambrovski http://www.tlaplus.net/?p=302 There are various tools available for the TLA+ specification language and PlusCal algorithm language, as described in the Tools section in more detail. An additional tool is coming soon: the TLA+ Toolbox.

In order to enhance the user experience with the tools and simplify the access to the languages some improvements are being developed in the scope of the project run by Microsoft Research and INRIA. Along with the focus on the proof aspect of TLA+, the development of a complete Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for writing and debugging of specifications has been identified as a project goal. The IDE unifies the editors for specifications and models with already existing TLA+ tools for syntax analyze, PlusCal translation and model checking in one application. It includes the console-based TLA+ Tools and enables the use of their whole functionality via rich graphical user interface.

The IDE is currently being finalized and will be available soon. It will include:

  • Simple interface for managing specifications
  • Integrated TLA+ specification editor with features like:
    • SANY integration
    • Syntax Highlighting
    • Basic content assist
    • Error marker support
    • and others
  • PlusCal Translator integration
  • TLC Model Checker integration
    • Simple interface for managing models
    • Rich model editor
    • Extended TLC result display
    • Trace Explorer
    • and others…

Stay tuned for the TLA+ Toolbox release…

]]> http://www.tlaplus.net/posts/2009/08/coming-soon-tla-toolbox/feed/ 0 Tools and Methodologies for Formal Specifications and for Proofs http://www.tlaplus.net/posts/2009/08/tools-and-methods-for-formal-specs-and-for-proofs/ http://www.tlaplus.net/posts/2009/08/tools-and-methods-for-formal-specs-and-for-proofs/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:08:17 +0000 Simon Zambrovski http://www.tlaplus.net/?p=283 There are a number of existing tools for working on TLA+ specifications, the most important of which is the TLC model-checker. Although the proof side of TLA+ is not well-developed yet, with no proof tools and an incomplete definition of the proof language, TLA+ has already proved its worth in significant projects in hardware design, protocols and software.

In this project, we are working on turning TLA+ into a complete solution for writing, debugging, and proving specifications. More precisely, we are concentrating on the proof aspect:

  • refining the proof language
  • making a development environment for TLA+ specifications and proofs
  • developing and adapting automatic tools for helping to prove TLA+ theorems (Zenon, haRVey-SAT)
  • translating TLA+ proofs into a machine-checkable format for verification by an independent checker (Isabelle)

We will validate and enhance our tools by finding examples of real-world projects where formal specifications bring real improvements over other methodologies. Feedback from these examples will help us improve the proof language and the tools and develop methods and “design patterns” for using TLA+.

Team and former Members

Status

Project is in progress…

Project Homepage

http://www.msr-inria.inria.fr/Projects/tools-for-formal-specs/

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