Side by side
PVS vs SPIN
Both stand on formal verification tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
PVS combines formal specification and verification tools with proof automation and batch workflows. Users should account for its licensing terms and platform-sensitive build process.
Visit PVS Free plan LinuxMacWindows
SPIN offers simulation and model checking for asynchronous systems, with Promela models and several verification approaches. Its compiler requirement is important for anyone planning to verify models.
Visit SPINThe facts
| PVS | SPIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | pvs.csl.sri.com | spinroot.com |
| On formal verification tools | #20 of 34 | #24 of 34 |
PVS: what it does well
- Includes an interactive theorem prover and symbolic model checker.
- Supports batch re-proving of theories and libraries.
- Yices SMT solver integration is listed.
- Noncommercial plan is free.
What to know first
- Commercial use requires a current license or licensing inquiry.
- Allegro runtime has a separate click-through license.
- Building from GitHub sources can depend on platform environment.
- VSCode interface is described as experimental.
SPIN: what it does well
- Free source and executables under BSD 3-Clause from version 6.4.5.
- Supports interactive, guided, and random simulation.
- Checks for deadlocks and race conditions.
- Supports exhaustive or approximate verification.
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What to know first
- Verification requires a working C compiler and preprocessor.
- Optional iSpin interface requires Tcl/Tk.
- Models must be specified in Promela.