Debugging overconstrained declarative models using unsatisfiable cores | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

Debugging overconstrained declarative models using unsatisfiable cores


Abstract:

Declarative models, in which conjunction and negation are freely used, are susceptible to unintentional overconstraint. Core extraction is a new analysis that mitigates t...Show More

Abstract:

Declarative models, in which conjunction and negation are freely used, are susceptible to unintentional overconstraint. Core extraction is a new analysis that mitigates this problem in the context of a checker based on reduction to SAT (systems analysis tools). It exploits a recently developed facility of SAT solvers that provides an "unsatisfiable core" of an unsatisfiable set of clauses, often much smaller than the clause set as a whole. The unsatisfiable core is mapped back into the syntax of the original model, showing the user fragments of the model found to be irrelevant. This information can be a great help in discovering and localizing overconstraint, and in some cases pinpoints it immediately. The construction of the mapping is given for a generalized modeling language, along with a justification of the soundness of the claim that the marked portions of the model are irrelevant. Experiences in applying core extraction to a variety of existing models are discussed.
Date of Conference: 06-10 October 2003
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 27 October 2003
Print ISBN:0-7695-2035-9
Print ISSN: 1938-4300
Conference Location: Montreal, QC, Canada

References

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