Why Don't People Use Formal Methods? (2019)
Summary
Hillel Wayne surveys why formal methods have not seen widespread adoption, distinguishing between formal specification and formal verification and explaining the social and economic barriers. He traces the historical progression from theorem provers to SMT solvers, discusses the challenges of writing correct specifications and proofs, and argues for the value of partial verification and design verification as more practical entry points. The piece also highlights the gap between fan enthusiasm and industry adoption, offering insights on making FM more accessible in real-world settings.