---
id: wiki-2026-0508-compcert
title: CompCert (Verified C Compiler)
category: 10_Wiki/Topics
status: verified
canonical_id: self
aliases: [CompCert, verified compiler, formal verification, Coq, Xavier Leroy, safety-critical]
duplicate_of: none
source_trust_level: A
confidence_score: 0.93
verification_status: applied
tags: [formal-verification, compiler, coq, compcert, safety-critical, sel4, full-stack-verification]
raw_sources: []
last_reinforced: 2026-05-10
github_commit: pending
tech_stack:
  language: Coq / OCaml
  framework: Coq Proof Assistant
---

# CompCert

## 매 한 줄
> **"매 compiler 의 mathematically proven correct"**. Xavier Leroy 등 의 INRIA. 매 source-to-binary 의 의미 보존 의 Coq 의 증명. 매 safety-critical (avionics, medical, nuclear) 의 standard. 매 full-stack verification (seL4) 의 inspiration.

## 매 핵심

### 매 verification target
- 매 매 compilation pass 의 semantic preservation.
- 매 source code 의 behavior = 매 compiled binary 의 behavior.
- 매 over all valid input.

### 매 trust chain
1. **Specification correctness** (C semantics).
2. **Coq kernel** (small, audited).
3. **Compiler proof** (in Coq).
4. **Code extraction** (Coq → OCaml, audited).
5. **OCaml runtime + assembler** (트러스트 base).

### 매 시간 history
- 2003 Project start.
- 2005 First version.
- 2009 Version 1.6 (more passes verified).
- 2024+ active development (Cs, Verasco extension).

### 매 application
- **Avionics**: 매 Airbus, 매 ASTREE.
- **Medical devices** (some).
- **Automotive** (research).
- **Nuclear**.
- **Crypto / financial**: 매 critical.

### 매 alternative / related
- **CakeML**: 매 ML 의 verified.
- **CertiKOS**: 매 OS 의 verified.
- **seL4**: 매 micro-kernel 의 verified.
- **Vellvm**: 매 LLVM 의 verified.
- **HACL\***: 매 verified crypto library.

### 매 limitation
- 매 narrow C subset (no concurrency some).
- 매 slower compile time.
- 매 GCC 의 -O2 만큼 가, 매 -O3 의 lose.
- 매 high investment of formal expert.
- 매 license (mostly proprietary, dual).

### 매 modern relevance
- **Software supply chain**: 매 trust 의 chain.
- **AI safety**: 매 verifiable property.
- **Formal methods 의 renaissance**: 매 rust borrow checker, TLA+ 의 popularization.

### 매 trust 의 critique (Ken Thompson)
- "Reflections on Trusting Trust" (1984).
- 매 compiler 의 self-reproduce + 매 backdoor.
- 매 CompCert 의 partial answer.
- 매 Diverse Double-Compilation (DDC).

## 💻 패턴 (응용 — formal verification)

### CompCert install + use
```bash
# 매 OPAM
opam install coq=8.18 coq-flocq menhir
git clone https://github.com/AbsInt/CompCert.git
cd CompCert
./configure x86_64-linux
make -j8
sudo make install

# 매 compile
ccomp -O2 hello.c -o hello
```

### 매 verified pass example (in Coq)
```coq
(* 매 매 transformation 의 simulation 의 prove *)
Theorem transf_program_correct:
  forall p tp,
  transf_program p = OK tp ->
  forward_simulation (semantics p) (semantics tp).
Proof.
  intros. apply forward_simulation_step with match_states; simpl; intros; eauto.
  - apply senv_preserved.
  - eapply transf_initial_states; eauto.
  - eapply transf_final_states; eauto.
  - eapply step_simulation; eauto.
Qed.
```

### Lean 4 (modern alternative)
```lean
-- 매 Lean 4: 매 mainstream alternative
def add_then_double (n : Nat) : Nat := (n + 1) * 2

theorem add_then_double_eq : ∀ n, add_then_double n = 2 * n + 2 := by
  intro n
  unfold add_then_double
  ring
```

### TLA+ (distributed protocol verification)
```tla
EXTENDS Naturals
VARIABLE counter

Init == counter = 0

Increment == counter' = counter + 1

Spec == Init /\ [][Increment]_counter

Invariant == counter >= 0

THEOREM Spec => []Invariant
```

### Z3 + property check
```python
from z3 import *

# 매 prove: 매 transformation 의 preserve property
x = Int('x')
y = Int('y')

solver = Solver()
solver.add(Not(Implies(x > 0, x * 2 > 0)))  # 매 negation
result = solver.check()
if result == unsat:
    print('Property holds.')
```

### Verified compiler in modern Rust (research)
```rust
// 매 RustBelt-like — 매 Rust 의 borrow checker 의 verify
// 매 unsafe code 의 contained correctness 의 prove
```

### Property-based testing (poor man's verification)
```python
from hypothesis import given, strategies as st

@given(st.integers(min_value=-1000, max_value=1000))
def test_compiler_optimization_preserves_meaning(x):
    naive_result = unoptimized_compile_and_run(x)
    opt_result = optimized_compile_and_run(x)
    assert naive_result == opt_result
```

→ 매 formal verify 의 X 가, 매 thousand random input 의 invariant check.

### Trusted base 의 minimize
```
Trust:
  - Coq kernel (~10K LOC).
  - Specification of C (PEER-reviewed).
  - OCaml extractor.
  - OCaml runtime + assembler.

Don't trust:
  - The compiler itself (proven against spec).
  - Optimization passes (each verified).
```

### CI integration (verified build)
```yaml
- name: Verified C compile
  run: |
    ccomp -O2 -fall src/safety_critical.c -o build/output.o
    cosign sign --key cosign.key build/output.o
```

## 🤔 결정 기준
| 상황 | Tool |
|---|---|
| Avionics / medical | CompCert |
| OS kernel | seL4 / Coq |
| Crypto | HACL\* / F\* |
| Distributed protocol | TLA+ |
| Math research | Lean 4 |
| Quick property | Hypothesis / Z3 |
| General compile | GCC / Clang + tests |
| Rust safety | borrow checker + Miri |

**기본값**: 매 safety-critical = CompCert + Coq. 매 일반 = GCC + tests + sanitize.

## 🔗 Graph
- 부모: [[Formal-Methods]] · [[Compiler]] · [[Automated-Theorem-Proving]]
- 변형: [[CakeML]] · [[CertiKOS]] · [[seL4]] · [[Vellvm]]
- Tool: [[Coq]] · [[Lean-4]] · [[TLA-Plus]] · [[F-Star]] · [[Z3]]
- Adjacent: [[Software-Supply-Chain-Security]] · [[Reliability]] · [[Antifragility]] · [[CI_CD 파이프라인 및 IDE 통합 보안]]

## 🤖 LLM 활용
**언제**: 매 safety-critical compile. 매 formal verification reference. 매 trust chain 설계.
**언제 X**: 매 일반 web app (over-engineering). 매 fast iteration.

## ❌ 안티패턴
- **모든 software 의 verified**: 매 ROI X.
- **CompCert 의 -O3 expectation**: 매 performance gap.
- **No specification**: 매 wrong thing 의 prove.
- **Trust base 의 over-extend**: 매 verification 가치 X.
- **Unverified passes 의 add**: 매 chain 의 break.

## 🧪 검증 / 중복
- Verified (Leroy CompCert papers, Pierce "Software Foundations", seL4 paper).
- 신뢰도 A.
- Related: [[Automated-Theorem-Proving]] · [[Software-Supply-Chain-Security]] · [[CI_CD 파이프라인 및 IDE 통합 보안]] · [[Antifragility]].

## 🕓 Changelog
| 날짜 | 변경 |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-08 | Phase 1 |
| 2026-05-10 | Manual cleanup — verification target + trust chain + 매 Coq / Lean / TLA+ / Z3 code |
