Towards Model Validation and Verification with SAT Techniques

After sketching how system development and the UML (Unified Modeling Language) and the OCL (Object Constraint Language) are related, validation and verification with the tool USE (UML-based Specification Environment) is demonstrated. As a more efficient alternative for verification tasks, two approaches using SAT-based techniques are put forward: First, a direct encoding of UML and OCL with Boolean variables and propositional formulas, and second, an encoding employing an intermediate, higher-level language (KODKOD, stongly connected to ALLOY). A number of further, presently not realized verification and validation tasks and the transformation of higher-level modeling concepts into simple UML/OCL models, which are checkable with SAT-based techniques, are shortly discussed. Finally, the potential of SAT-based techniques for model development is again emphasized.