runtimeverification / runtimeverification/kontrol
Issue in `kontrol merge-nodes` when a simplification only applies in one branch
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- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 122
- Forks
- 16
- PR merge metrics
- No merged PRs in 30d
Description
kontrol merge-nodes can run into an issue where one branch simplifies an expression and the other doesn't, which causes problems when the two branches are merged. For example, the following happens when trying to use it for the test in PR #162:
- One of the side conditions
Cin our configuration contains the subexpressionX modInt 2 ==Int 0. - We branch on the condition
X /Int 2 ==Int 0. - In the branch where
X /Int 2 ==Int 0,X modInt 2 ==Int 0can be simplified toX ==Int 0. This turnsCinto a different side conditionC'. - In the branch where
X /Int 2 =/=Int 0, the simplification doesn't apply, so it remains asC. - As a result, when we merge the two nodes, instead of getting
C #And ( ( X /Int 2 =/=Int 0 andBool B ) orBool ( X /Int 2 ==Int 0 andBool B' ) )(whereBandB'are the constraints that are different between the two branches) we instead get( ( X /Int 2 =/=Int 0 andBool B andBool C ) orBool ( X /Int 2 ==Int 0 andBool B' andBool C' ) ).
Because this can happen when C is alread a merged expression like (P andBool Q) orBool (notBool P andBool Q'), this can quickly compound over multiple applications of merge-nodes and grow into a large unreadable expression with multiple nested andBool and orBool operators.
What can we do about this?
- While we can write a lemma to turn
( ( X /Int 2 =/=Int 0 andBool B andBool C ) orBool ( X /Int 2 ==Int 0 andBool B' andBool C' ) )back intoC #And ( ( X /Int 2 =/=Int 0 andBool B ) orBool ( X /Int 2 ==Int 0 andBool B' ) ), this lemma is both very complex and very non-generalizable (we would need to write a different lemma for every case). So this approach doesn't seem ideal. - If we were able to specify what we want our merged node to look like, Kontrol should be able to determine that it subsumes both of the individual nodes being merged. This is similar to a loop invariant, and if we implement a way to specify loop invariants as annotations in the Solidity code, that functionality can probably also be used for this.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by inspecting the implementation and behavior of kontrol merge-nodes, then reproduce the simplification mismatch described for the test in PR #162. Done should mean that merging branches with different simplification results preserves a shared side condition, or provides a general way to specify the intended merged node or invariant.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python, solidity
- Domain
- blockchain, devtools
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100