Title
Using formal models to objectively judge quality of multi-threaded programs in empirical studies
Abstract
Empirical studies are important for understanding how well current design methods and notations support development of multi-threaded programs. Unfortunately, concurrency exacerbates an already difficult problem in drawing conclusions from such studies: How to objectively measure the quality of candidate solutions produced by participants in the studies. This paper explores the use of formal modeling and analysis for this purpose. We describe initial findings of a small pilot study to determine if we can objectively differentiate sample candidate solutions with respect to their use of synchronization primitives. To do so, we faithfully model these candidate solutions and various synchronization-related properties in the Finite State Processes (FSP) notation and use the Labeled Transition System Analyzer (LTSA) to analyze the solution models against the properties.
Year
DOI
Venue
2008
10.1145/1370731.1370740
MiSE
Keywords
Field
DocType
labeled transition,formal modeling,difficult problem,system analyzer,candidate solution,differentiate sample candidate solution,finite state processes,current design method,multi-threaded program,judge quality,initial finding,empirical study,design method
Synchronization,Notation,Concurrency,Computer science,Finite state processes,Design methods,Theoretical computer science,Multi threaded,Labeled transition system,Empirical research
Conference
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
7
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Laura K. Dillon149770.70
R. E. K. Stirewalt2897.29
Eileen Kraemer355065.47
Shaohua Xie4454.70
Scott D. Fleming524211.77