Error Propagation and Elimination in Computer Programs.

The current literature in program testing is surveyed. A strategy is proposed for eliminating categories of errors from programs. Errors may be classified as functional an incorrect input-output pair or structural an incorrect statement. An error is eliminated if a successful program execution for a given input implies the program could not contain the error. A creation condition guarantees that a structural error affects the programs computation. A propagation condition guarantees that the effect produces a functional error. An error is eliminated whenever a computation satisfies both the creation and the propagation condition and produces correct output. Author