Software is infrastructure: failures, successes, costs, and the case for formal verification

Abstract

In this chapter we outline the role that software has in modern society, along with the staggering costs of poor software quality. To lay this bare, we recall the costs of some of the major software failures that happened during the last 40 years. We argue that these costs justify researching, studying and applying formal software verification and in particular program analysis. This position is supported by successful industrial experiences.