Merge branch 'master' of git.frama-c.com:pub/pub.frama-c.com

_posts/2020-06-17-analysis-scripts-user-manual.md

+---
+layout: post
+author: André Maroneze
+date: 2020-06-17 12:00 +0100
+categories: scripts usability
+title: "Analysis scripts: up-to-date information in the Frama-C User Manual"
+---
+
+The _analysis scripts_ provided with Frama-C, which have been mentioned
+in this blog several times, are now documented in the
+[Frama-C User Manual](http://frama-c.com/download/frama-c-user-manual.pdf).
+This should provide a more complete and up-to-date experience concerning
+these scripts.
+
+## Faster iterations with daily Frama-C snapshots
+
+Deploying analysis scripts usually required very long iteration times: with
+one Frama-C release each 6 months, users needed to wait before fixes and new
+features, which meant less feedback from users.
+
+With the availability of
+[public daily snapshots](https://git.frama-c.com/pub/frama-c), it is now much
+easier to provide users with new features and test different approaches.
+
+## Not only for Eva
+
+The analysis scripts were initially developed for usage with the Eva plug-in,
+but they were always intended for a more widespread Frama-C usage.
+A small section on the Eva user manual mentioned their usage, but without
+many details, due to their constant evolution.
+
+As their usage matures, we expect some convergence from other plug-ins, to
+provide a more unified approach and to maximize their utility.
+Dedicating an entire chapter of the User Manual to them should help achieve
+this objective.
+
+## Towards continuous integration with Frama-C
+
+The usage of _analysis scripts_ is shifting from a formal methods-centric
+view -- in which the code is considered as "finished" and the main task is
+the verification with Frama-C -- towards an agile development-centric view,
+in which Frama-C is a tool to be used throughout the development process.
+By inserting Frama-C in a continuous integration pipeline, the user should
+obtain helpful feedback after each commit.
+
+Current developments in the platform should allow this to become true in the
+nearby future, thanks to the support of [EU project SPARTA*](https://sparta.eu).
+Stay tuned!
+
+<small>*This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020
+research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 830892.</small>