Verification of object-oriented programs: A transformational approach

The work

AuthorsKrzysztof R. Apt; Frank S. de Boer; Ernst-Rüdiger Olderog; Stijn de Gouw
Editors
Typearticle
Year2012
Citekeyapt2012verification

Where it appeared

Published inJournal of Computer and System Sciences
Volume78
Issue3
Pages823--852

Abstract

We show that verification of object-oriented programs by means of the assertional method can be achieved in a simple way by exploiting a syntax-directed transformation from object-oriented programs to recursive programs. This transformation suggests natural proofs rules and its correctness helps us to establish soundness and relative completeness of the proposed proof system. One of the difficulties is how to properly deal in the assertion language with the instance variables and aliasing. The discussed programming language supports arrays, instance variables, failures and recursive methods with parameters. We also explain how the transformational approach can be extended to deal with other features of object-oriented programming, like classes, inheritance, subtyping and dynamic binding.

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Added2026-08-05 00:00 UTC
Approved bya person 2026-08-14 11:33 UTC

Cite it as

@article{apt2012verification,
  title        = {Verification of object-oriented programs: A transformational approach},
  author       = {Krzysztof R. Apt and Frank S. de Boer and Ernst-Rüdiger Olderog and Stijn de Gouw},
  year         = {2012},
  journal      = {Journal of Computer and System Sciences},
  volume       = {78},
  number       = {3},
  pages        = {823--852},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.jcss.2011.08.002},
}

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