Section: Scientific Foundations

Abstract Interpretation Theory

The abstract interpretation theory [41] , [32] , [42] , is the main scientific foundation of the work of the Abstraction project-team. Its main current application is on the safety and security of complex hardware and software computer systems either sequential [41] , [34] , or parallel [36] with shared memory [33] , [35] , [44] or synchronous message [43] communication.

Abstract interpretation is a theory of sound approximation of mathematical structures, in particular those involved in the behavior of computer systems. It allows the systematic derivation of sound methods and algorithms for approximating undecidable or highly complex problems in various areas of computer science (semantics, verification and proof, model-checking, static analysis, program transformation and optimization, typing, software steganography, etc...) and system biology (pathways analysis).