runtimeverification / runtimeverification/kontrol

[intuitiveness] Minimize the need for background knowledge

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Dominant language
Python
Stars
122
Forks
16
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

As we discussed in #743, I believe we need to reduce the background knowledge required for better understanding and easier verification. While our input specification is quite straightforward, the results are not easy to interpret and require knowledge of K, EVM semantics, and Kontrol's encoding algorithms. Therefore, we should develop a way to analyze the results and present information that can be understood without needing knowledge beyond Solidity. I'm not yet sure how to design this, but it might look something like this:

VERIFICATION PASSED
Verification Target: …
Precondition: …
Postcondition: …
VERIFICATION OUT-OF-TIME
A call graph with solidity expressions to split.
VERIFICATION FAILED
Location of the failed solidity program.
Reason for this failure.

The structure should be designed by experienced verification personnel to ensure that the information provided is sufficient to adjust assumptions and assertions or to identify issues in the verification target.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reviewing the discussion in #743 and how Kontrol currently presents verification results. Define a user-facing structure for passed, out-of-time, and failed verification that is understandable with Solidity knowledge alone, then get the design validated by experienced verification personnel.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python, solidity
Domain
developer-experience, tooling
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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