System correctness

Abstract

There is no question that reliability is an important factor in the production and life cycle of software. Logical correctness is the first step towards achieving reliability. While operating systems may be too large to prove correct, in view of the current state of the art, there are often key algorithms and critical properties which are good candidates. A precise statement of the properties, assumptions, and theorems involved greatly influences the reliability of the program. As a side benefit we get a tremendous understanding of the operation of the programs while trying to prove their correctness. By the time we have stated formally all the properties, assertions and theorems involved, the program is sufficiently analyzed informally to ensure its correctness for all practical purposes.