Verification of class liveness properties with java modelling language

Static checking is key for the security of software components. As a component model, this paper considers a Java class enriched with annotations from the Java modelling language (JML). It defines a formal execution semantics for repetitive method invocations from this annotated class, called the class in isolation semantics. Afterwards, a pattern of liveness properties is defined, together with its formal semantics, providing a foundation for both static and runtime checking. This pattern is then inscribed in a complete language of temporal properties, called Java temporal pattern language, extending JML. The authors particularly address the verification of liveness properties by automatically translating the temporal properties into JML annotations for this class. This automatic translation is implemented in a tool called JML annotation generator. Correctness of the generated annotations ensures that the temporal property is established for the executions of the class in isolation.