prob

ProB is a software tool for the formal methods community, providing an animator, model checker, and constraint solver for formal specifications written in the B-Method, Event-B, and Z notations. It helps users explore and validate models by executing operation sequences, checking invariants, and discovering counterexamples to properties. ProB supports animation of machines and schemas, allowing users to step through events and observe changes in state. It also offers constraint-based data generation, which can be used to create concrete examples that satisfy preconditions and invariants. In addition to animation, ProB provides bounded model checking and analysis for safety properties, enabling the detection of deadlocks or invariant violations within a finite search space. It can generate test data and counterexamples, and supports verification of temporal properties in a limited scope.

ProB is implemented in Java and provides multiple interfaces, including a standalone graphical user interface and integrations with other tools. It is commonly used as a plug-in within Rodin, the framework for Event-B development, and can also be used with other B-Method environments and the Z notation. The tool runs on major platforms such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.

ProB is an open-source project used in both academic and industrial contexts to teach formal methods, verify models, and assist debugging of specifications. It is maintained by a community of researchers and developers and is distributed with documentation and tutorials. Its broad compatibility with B, Event-B, and Z makes it a widely cited resource for exploring formal specifications and validating model behavior.