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Department of Information Technology

Analyzing Concurrent Algorithms under Weak Memory Orderings

  • Speaker : Bengt Jonsson
  • Time : Thu, Nov 6th, 2008 at 13.30
  • Room : 1113
Abstract

Several concurrent implementations of familiar data abstractions such as queues, sets, or maps typically do not follow locking disciplines, and often use lock-free synchronization to gain performance.

Since such algorithms are exposed to a weak memory model (weaker than the traditional sequential consistency or interleaving model), they are harder to get correct.

We outline a technique for analyzing correctness of concurrent algorithms under weak memory models, in which a model checker is used to search for correctness violations. The algorithm to be analyzed is transformed into a form where statements may be reordered according to a particular weak memory ordering. The transformed algorithm can then be analyzed by a model-checking tool, e.g., by enumerative state exploration. We illustrate the approach on a small example, for a particular memory model.

The seminar will also provide some introduction to different memory models, and how they can be taken into account during different forms of analysis.

Updated  2008-11-05 17:40:17 by Frédéric Haziza.