How to become a successful tool builder - the dirty tricks

Gerd Behrmann 
Aalborg University

Abstract: Although we all love playing with tools, tool development is
often considered less valuable or is less respected than theory
development. At many universities, developing and releasing a tool is
not even counted as a scientific contribution. I will argue that tool
development is not only a valuable and important activity, but an
essential part of a scientific approach to the area of algorithmic
verification. At the same time, empirical studies in this field are often of
questionable quality, with results that are not reproducable and
unfounded conclusions. This situation must be improved if tool building
shall become a respected activity.