[SystemSafety] Claims for formal methods

[Derek M Jones]

Martyn,

> Now you seem to be abusing an entire community of researchers and
> engineers. Are you unable to put forward your beliefs more professionally?

I gave a succinct summary of my views.

> Please provide some examples (preferably from peer-reviewed journals) of
> the "excessive claims" that you are criticising.

There are the articles discussed in links I posted to the
original thread:
http://shape-of-code.coding-guidelines.com/2013/03/10/verified-compilers-and-soap-powder-advertising/ 

http://shape-of-code.coding-guidelines.com/2012/05/23/would-you-buy-second-hand-software-from-a-formal-methods-researcher/

The French group in the above links did some interesting work on
compiler code generation and I believe they now refer to it as
a verified compiler backend (which is what it idoes) rather than a
verified C compiler.

For an impressive piece of work on creating a formal definition
of a C compiler front end (syntax and semantics) supporting a
substantial chunk of the C standard  see:
http://code.google.com/p/c-semantics/

> Then please explain how this provides enough evidence for accusing a
> whole community of a "culture of intellectual dishonesty".

Thanks, but I am content to sit in my corner of the world and leave
the entrenched positions be.

> Martyn
>
>
>
> On 19/02/2014 00:16, Derek M Jones wrote:
>> The current culture of intellectual dishonesty in the formal methods
>> community is switching off interest from potential users.
>>
>> Justifying excessive claims by using weasel words to show how
>> wording can be interpreted to reflect reality is not the way to
>> convince people to try something new.
>>
>> Researchers should ask themselves whether their paper would stand
>> scrutiny from the advertising standards authority.
>> Soap power manufacturers have their claims scrutinized and I think
>> we all agree that claims made about the use of formal methods should
>> also meet this minimum requirement.
>
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-- 
Derek M. Jones                  tel: +44 (0) 1252 520 667
Knowledge Software Ltd          blog:shape-of-code.coding-guidelines.com
Software analysis               http://www.knosof.co.uk