Formal Methods and Software Engineering

Formal methods bring mathematical precision to the design and analysis of software and systems. This conference proceedings volume gathers research on how those methods are developed and applied—from program verification and system security to machine learning and formal languages.

Rather than following one textbook-style argument, the collection presents peer-reviewed papers addressing distinct problems and approaches. That makes it a useful research reference for readers tracking current work across formal engineering methods.

Research across verification, security, and learning

The proceedings span several connected areas of computer science. Papers consider safety and security, verification of programs and systems, formal methods alongside machine learning, formal languages, and other applications. Among the specific subjects are attack-defence trees, failure reasoning, pointer verification in SPARK, symbolic execution, timed automata, and fault-model learning for cyber-physical systems.

From theoretical questions to software systems

A defining feature of the volume is its range: theoretical contributions sit alongside applied research and case studies. Readers can compare how formal techniques are brought to bear on different challenges, including software correctness, protocol behavior, and the robustness of machine-learning models.

A proceedings volume for research-minded readers

Prepared for the 22nd International Conference on Formal Engineering Methods (ICFEM 2020), the book contains 16 full papers, four short papers, and one doctoral symposium paper. It is suited to researchers, graduate students, and software engineering practitioners seeking focused conference contributions rather than a step-by-step introductory course.

For readers following the evolving practice of formal verification and software engineering, these proceedings offer a cross-section of research questions and applications from the ICFEM community.