Runtime Verification
Runtime verification is a lightweight formal method that involves monitoring and analyzing the execution of a software system at runtime to check whether it satisfies specified properties or constraints. It uses monitors or observers to detect violations of safety, security, or correctness requirements in real-time, often providing feedback or triggering corrective actions. This approach bridges the gap between static verification techniques and dynamic testing, offering continuous assurance for complex or evolving systems.
Developers should use runtime verification when building safety-critical systems (e.g., in aerospace, automotive, or medical devices) where failures can have severe consequences, or in distributed and concurrent systems where static analysis is challenging. It is particularly valuable for verifying temporal properties, such as liveness or fairness, and for systems that must adapt to unpredictable environments, as it allows for ongoing compliance checks without halting operations.