An Abstract Interpretation-based Combinator for Modelling While Loops in Constraint Programming

International audienceWe present the w constraint combinator that models while loops in Constraint Programming. Embedded in a finite domain constraint solver, it allows programmers to develop non-trivial arithmetical relations using loops, exactly as in an imperative language style. The deduction capabilities of this combinator comes from abstract interpretation over the polyhedra abstract domain. This combinator has already demonstrated its utility in constraint-based verification and we argue that it also facilitates the rapid prototyping of arithmetic constraints (power, gcd, sum, ...)