Using functional models in automatic debugging

It is shown that applying functional reasoning to program debugging brings the crisp semantics of programming languages to functional representation. In return, functional reasoning resolves the dispute between plan-based and semantics-based debugging approaches. A description is given of a debugger called DUDU (debugging using device understanding), which identifies correct programs and gives meaningful explanations about why incorrect programs are incorrect. In addition to template information, the representation includes fragments of causal stories at various levels of abstraction.<>