Logic in computer science : modelling and reasoning about systems

Recent years have seen the development of powerful tools for verifying hardware and software systems, and increasing interest in that technology from major companies. Students need a basic formal training which allows them to gain sufficient proficiency in using logic-based verification methods. This book addresses these needs by providing a sound basis in logic, and an introduction to the logical frameworks used in modelling, specifying and verifying computer systems. It provides a simple and clear presentation, covering propositional and predicate logic, and some specialised logics used for reasoning about the correctness of computer systems. The authors introduce a carefully chosen core of essential terminology: further technicalities are introduced only when necessary. Numerous examples are given, as well as a full exposition of a fast-growing technique for modelling and verifying computer systems, known as symbolic model checking. Numerous examples are given, and web support is available from http:www.cs.bham.ac.uk/research/lics.