Why3
6.8#4 in formal verification toolsFree planFree planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted
VisitWhy3 vs Z3
What both publish
| Fact | Why3 | Z3 |
|---|---|---|
| Downloads | The site lists Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu packages and links to source release 1.8.2. | The repository links to pre-built binaries for stable and nightly releases. |
| License | TryWhy3 is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 with a special linking exception. | The repository states that Z3 is licensed under the MIT license. |
| Purpose | Why3 is a platform for deductive program verification that uses WhyML and external theorem provers to discharge verification conditions. | Z3 is a theorem prover and satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solver. |
| Support | The project provides a user mailing list, a Zulip chat, and a bug tracking system. | The project wiki says to contact the creator of an external binding package for support issues. |
Why3 plans
- Why3Free
Z3 plans
- Z3 (MIT licensed)Free
Pick Why3 if…
Why3 suits developers and researchers working on deductive verification with contracts and WhyML. It may also fit users who need to connect external provers or use its OCaml API.
Pick Z3 if…
Z3 suits developers and researchers working on theorem proving, software verification, or analysis who can use its documented formats and interfaces.