The Cost-Benefit Reality of Formal Methods Projects
This article, based on the author's experience, explores the challenges of applying formal methods (FM) in real-world projects. The author argues that the success of FM projects hinges on a cost-benefit balance. Many potential FM projects fail to materialize due to high costs, difficulties in quantifying benefits, or the inability to demonstrate short-term value. The article highlights that successful FM projects require early value delivery, translating complex technical results into client-understandable language, and prioritizing low-cost reliability assurance measures, such as testing and code reviews. The author emphasizes that FM is not a silver bullet and should be combined with other methods to improve software reliability and security.
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