Verification Tools

by avardhan on March 12, 2010

In my PhD research work I developed the following software tools:

  • LEVER – Learning to Verify. Lever can be used to verify specifications or a high level design models for software.  It uses learning techniques to verify that the program meets its specifications.
  • DiAna – Distributed Analyzer (This was joint work with Koushik Sen). This implements monitoring of a distributed system using a simple but intuitive logic.

Other tools that I have found very useful:

 Valgrind

One very useful tool for finding memory leaks and errors is Valgrind .  This tool essentially runs the program under test in a simulated environment and instruments the code to watch out for various errors.  I have used Valgrind for a number of debugging sessions and have always found it useful.  It turned out for one example, I had a very subtle memory corruption bug in some library code and I tried to find the bug using other methods like printing, gdb and plain old looking at the code, but was getting quite frustrated.  I then downloaded Valgrind and ran the same programm under Valgrind. Though it took some time to run, but it was a lifesaver.  Valgrind even pointed out to the likely culprit in the code.  Installation was fairly easy and instructions webpage were quite useful. I recommend Valgrind to anyone who is doing C or C++ programming and uses pointers

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Unlocking a Sony Ericsson w810i mobile phone

by avardhan on April 22, 2008

I am traveling overseas so I called AT&T to unlock my phone. They gave me a code and the following instructions

  • Power off device and remove AT&T SIM card.
  • Insert SIM card from another wireless carrier.
  • Power on the handset.
  • Press the Left Arrow (<) button.
  • Press the star (*) button twice.
  • Press the Left Arrow (<) button.
  • display indicates “ME Lock”
  • wait approximately 3 seconds.
  • the display indicates “Network” and a picture of a closed lock.
  • Press Yes.
  • the display indicates “Unlock?”
  • Press Yes.
  • Enter the SIM Unlock code.
  • Press Yes.
  • The handset displays “Network” and a picture of an open lock for three seconds and then reverts to the main display.
  • The handset is successfully unlocked

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