COMPASS: A Comprehensible Assertion Method

We present an approach for automatically generating relevant , focused questions to be asked during code inspection sessions. The method is based on Hoare-logic. The novel key idea is the introduction of informal predicates, which, though not having a formal definition , may have a perfectly legal and unique informal interpretation. Such predicates make it easier to express requirements in terms of assertions , while still allowing for the automatic derivation of veriication conditions. Moreover, informal predicates enable reasoning about assertions and verifying veriication conditions at a level which is suitable for man rather than machine.