English

An algebra of synchronous atomic steps

Logic in Computer Science 2022-01-19 v3

Abstract

This research started with an algebra for reasoning about rely/guarantee concurrency for a shared memory model. The approach taken led to a more abstract algebra of atomic steps, in which atomic steps synchronise (rather than interleave) when composed in parallel. The algebra of rely/guarantee concurrency then becomes an interpretation of the more abstract algebra. Many of the core properties needed for rely/guarantee reasoning can be shown to hold in the abstract algebra where their proofs are simpler and hence allow a higher degree of automation. Moreover, the realisation that the synchronisation mechanisms of standard process algebras, such as CSP and CCS/SCCS, can be interpreted in our abstract algebra gives evidence of its unifying power. The algebra has been encoded in Isabelle/HOL to provide a basis for tool support.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1609.00118,
  title  = {An algebra of synchronous atomic steps},
  author = {Ian J. Hayes and Robert Colvin and Larissa Meinicke and Kirsten Winter and Andrius Velykis},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1609.00118},
  year   = {2022}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T15:37:21.162Z