Generating Distributed Programs from Event-B Models

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to automatically generate correct distributed programs from formal Event-B models by defining a subset LB and transforming it into DistAlgo code, ensuring correctness through refinement.

Contribution

It introduces a formal approach combining Event-B modeling with program generation in DistAlgo, enabling verified distributed program development.

Findings

Defined LB subset of Event-B for distributed actions

Developed transformation from LB models to DistAlgo programs

Demonstrated correctness through refinement and example

Abstract

Distributed algorithms offer challenges in checking that they meet their specifications. Verification techniques can be extended to deal with the verification of safety properties of distributed algorithms. In this paper, we present an approach for combining correct-by-construction approaches and transformations of formal models (Event-B) into programs (DistAlgo) to address the design of verified distributed programs. We define a subset LB (Local Event-B) of the Event-B modelling language restricted to events modelling the classical actions of distributed programs as internal or local computations, sending messages and receiving messages. We define then transformations of the various elements of the LB language into DistAlgo programs. The general methodology consists in starting from a statement of the problem to program and then progressively producing an LB model obtained after several refinement steps of the initial LB model. The derivation of the LB model is not described in the current paper and has already been addressed in other works. The transformation of LB models into DistAlgo programs is illustrated through a simple example. The refinement process and the soundness of the transformation allow one to produce correct-by-construction distributed programs.