SPIN
SPIN is a free tool for checking whether asynchronous systems meet logical correctness requirements.
What SPIN is
SPIN is a free tool for checking whether asynchronous systems meet logical correctness requirements. It is used for distributed software and communication protocols, whose behavior is specified in Promela. The language can represent asynchronous processes, nondeterministic choices, loops, and local or global variables; models can express requirements including linear temporal logic properties. SPIN supports interactive, guided, and random simulation of system execution. For verification, it can generate C code to check requirements exhaustively or approximately. The product description says it checks for deadlocks, race conditions, incomplete specifications, and assumptions about process speeds that are not justified. Partial order reduction is listed as an optimization, and the site provides guidance on multicore algorithms and swarm methods for large state spaces. SPIN is self-hosted and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, among other listed systems. From version 6.4.5, its code, sources, and executables are available under the BSD 3-Clause license. Verification requires a working C compiler and preprocessor; the optional iSpin graphical interface requires Tcl/Tk.
Good
- Free under the BSD 3-Clause license from version 6.4.5.
- Supports simulation and verification of models.
- Checks for deadlocks and race conditions.
- Supports linear temporal logic properties.
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Watch out
- Verification requires a working C compiler and preprocessor.
- Optional iSpin interface requires Tcl/Tk.
- Models must be specified in Promela.
Who it suits
SPIN suits people modeling distributed software or communication protocols who need to simulate or verify asynchronous behavior. It is self-hosted and requires Promela specifications, plus a C compiler and preprocessor for verification.
Verdict
SPIN offers simulation and model checking for asynchronous systems, with tools for finding several kinds of specification and behavior problems. Account for its Promela input and compiler requirements when considering it.
Plans and prices
From SPIN's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| SPIN | Free | Free source and executables · BSD 3-Clause license |
The facts
Each one read from SPIN's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build requirement
- The installation guide says SPIN requires a working C compiler and C preprocessor for verification.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Correctness properties
- Promela models can specify logical correctness requirements, including requirements expressed in linear temporal logic.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Issue detection
- The product description says SPIN checks specifications for deadlocks, race conditions, incompleteness, and unwarranted assumptions about process speeds.checked 3 Oct 2026
- License
- Starting with SPIN version 6.4.5, its code, sources, and executables are available under the BSD 3-Clause license.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Model language
- Systems are specified in Promela, which supports asynchronous processes, nondeterministic choices, loops, and local and global variables.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Multicore and swarm
- The binaries page links guidance for multicore DFS and BFS algorithms and for swarm methods to handle large state spaces.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The download instructions say SPIN runs on Unix, Solaris, Linux, most Windows PCs, and Macs.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Optional interface
- iSpin is an optional graphical interface written in Tcl/Tk, and the guide says it requires Tcl/Tk.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Partial order reduction
- SPIN’s product description lists partial order reduction as an optimization for verification runs.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- SPIN analyzes the logical consistency of asynchronous systems, including distributed software and communication protocols.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Simulation
- SPIN supports interactive, guided, and random simulations of a system’s execution.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Support and learning
- The site provides manual pages, tutorials, papers, books, and a forum through its homepage navigation.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Verification
- SPIN can generate a C program for exhaustive or approximate verification of a model’s correctness requirements.checked 3 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1980checked 28 Sep 2026
