Proving pointer programs in hoare logic

Abstract

It is possible, but difficult, to reason in Hoare logic about programs which address and modify data structures defined by pointers. The challenge is to approach the simplicity of Hoare logic’s treatment of variable assignment, where substitution affects only relevant assertion formulæ. The axiom of assignment to object components treats each component name as a pointerindexed array. This permits a formal treatment of inductively defined data structures in the heap but tends to produce instances of modified component mappings in arguments to inductively defined assertions. The major weapons against these troublesome mappings are assertions which describe spatial separation of data structures. Three example proofs are sketched.