Tutorial on JML, the java modeling language

ABSTRACT

The Java Modeling Language (JML) is widely used in academic research as a common language for formal methods tools that work with Java. JML is a design by contract language that can be used to specify detailed designs of Java programs, frameworks, and class libraries. Over twenty research groups worldwide have built several tools for checking code and finding bugs (see jmlspecs.org).

This tutorial will give background for researchers and practitioners interested in doing formal methods research and in using JML for specifying the sequential behavior of Java classes and interfaces. Attendees will write JML specifications for a data type, including pre- and postconditions for methods and object invariants. They will also learn how to use the most important JML tools. In addition, they will learn how to use model fields to hide the actual field declarations in classes, and how JML supports modular reasoning about subtypes with behavioral subtyping

REFERENCES

• 1: Lilian Burdy , Yoonsik Cheon , David R. Cok , Michael D. Ernst , Joseph R. Kiniry , Gary T. Leavens , K. Rustan M. Leino , Erik Poll, An overview of JML tools and applications, International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer (STTT), v.7 n.3, p.212-232, June 2005 [doi>10.1007/s10009-004-0167-4]
• 2: G. T. Leavens. JML's rich, inherited specifications for behavioral subtypes. In Z. Liu and H. Jifeng, editors, Formal Methods and Software Engineering: 8th International Conference on Formal Engineering Methods (ICFEM), volume 4260 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pages 2--34, New York, NY, Nov. 2006. Springer-Verlag.
• 3: Gary T. Leavens , Albert L. Baker , Clyde Ruby, Preliminary design of JML: a behavioral interface specification language for java, ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, v.31 n.3, May 2006 [doi>10.1145/1127878.1127884]
• 4: G. T. Leavens, J. R. Kiniry, and E. Poll. A JML tutorial: Modular specification and verification of functional behavior for Java. In W. Damm and H. Hermanns, editors, Computer Aided Verification 2007, volume 4590 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, page 37, Berlin, July 2007. Springer-Verlag.
• 5: G. T. Leavens, E. Poll, C. Clifton, Y. Cheon, C. Ruby, D. R. Cok, P. Müller, J. Kiniry, and P. Chalin. JML Reference Manual. Available from http://www.jmlspecs.org, Feb. 2007.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.1 Requirements/Specifications
          Subjects: Languages

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.1 Requirements/Specifications
          Subjects: Tools
      D.2.4 Software/Program Verification
          Subjects: Assertion checkers; Formal methods; Programming by contract; Class invariants

  F. Theory of Computation
  F.3 LOGICS AND MEANINGS OF PROGRAMS
      F.3.1 Specifying and Verifying and Reasoning about Programs
          Subjects: Pre- and post-conditions; Assertions; Specification techniques; Invariants

General Terms:
Languages, Verification

Keywords:
assertion, behavioral subtype, design by contract, extended static checking, information hiding, invariant, java modeling language (JML), model field, runtime assertion checking, specification, specification inheritance, tool, verification