For a Few Dollars More - Verified Fine-Grained Algorithm Analysis Down to LLVM

Abstract

Abstract We present a framework to verify both, functional correctness and worst-case complexity of practically efficient algorithms. We implemented a stepwise refinement approach, using the novel concept of resource currencies to naturally structure the resource analysis along the refinement chain, and allow a fine-grained analysis of operation counts. Our framework targets the LLVM intermediate representation. We extend its semantics from earlier work with a cost model. As case study, we verify the correctness and $$O(n\log n)$$ O ( n log n ) worst-case complexity of an implementation of the introsort algorithm, whose performance is on par with the state-of-the-art implementation found in the GNU C++ Library.