Definition
Plain language
A verified system for getting many computers to agree, with a proof it works under any timing or failure.
As stated in the literature
A framework and methodology for building formally verified distributed systems, notably Paxos-style consensus, with machine-checked safety and liveness proofs.
Why it matters: It shows that notoriously tricky distributed systems can be built with mathematical guarantees, ruling out whole classes of subtle failures.
For example, it can build a system where many servers agree on the same value, with a proof that they stay consistent even if messages are delayed or machines fail.
Heard on the show
“The seL4 microkernel, CompCert — a verified C compiler — IronFleet for distributed consensus, Chapar for causally-consistent storage.”Episode 075 — Growing Code and Proof Together: Verified Systems in Ten Hours Instead of a Year