Teaching Distributed Algorithms Using SPIN
Claude Jard, Ens de Cachan, Campus de Ker-Lann · 2008
This paper presents a teaching experiment to introduce formal methods and distributed algorithms at the undergraduate level in the department of computer science and telecoms of the ENS de Cachan in France. The course intends to teach some basic notions on formal modeling and analysis of distributed software. We used the free-software SPIN. This kind of experiment was found to be useful for our students since they gain an understanding of the importance and necessity of formal methods for designing even simple protocols.