Solving the Santa Claus Concurrency Puzzle with SPIN Model Checker

Solving Santa Claus Puzzle

I explored the classic Santa Claus concurrency puzzle using the SPIN model checker and Promela to validate synchronization logic. Instead of jumping to a solution, I first engineered three failure scenarios to expose subtle bugs in group marshalling and priority handling. This approach revealed how easily correct-seeming code fails under complex interleavings, proving that model checking offers superior coverage over traditional testing for concurrency challenges.

"I expected this to be a simple problem. What surprised me is how easy it is to get it wrong."