Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/master'
[model-checker.git] / model.cc
index a351867d8e87fbd814de7cb355c7a2384bf56076..39a7c2170f59fb0ac9b3a7d2160ecb80027283ff 100644 (file)
--- a/model.cc
+++ b/model.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "promise.h"
 #include "datarace.h"
 #include "mutex.h"
+#include "threads.h"
 
 #define INITIAL_THREAD_ID      0
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ ModelChecker::ModelChecker(struct model_params params) :
        num_executions(0),
        num_feasible_executions(0),
        diverge(NULL),
+       earliest_diverge(NULL),
        action_trace(new action_list_t()),
        thread_map(new HashTable<int, Thread *, int>()),
        obj_map(new HashTable<const void *, action_list_t, uintptr_t, 4>()),
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ ModelChecker::ModelChecker(struct model_params params) :
        mo_graph(new CycleGraph()),
        failed_promise(false),
        too_many_reads(false),
-       asserted(false)
+       asserted(false),
+       bad_synchronization(false)
 {
        /* Allocate this "size" on the snapshotting heap */
        priv = (struct model_snapshot_members *)calloc(1, sizeof(*priv));
@@ -80,6 +83,7 @@ void ModelChecker::reset_to_initial_state()
        node_stack->reset_execution();
        failed_promise = false;
        too_many_reads = false;
+       bad_synchronization = false;
        reset_asserted();
        snapshotObject->backTrackBeforeStep(0);
 }
@@ -96,6 +100,12 @@ int ModelChecker::get_num_threads()
        return priv->next_thread_id;
 }
 
+/** @return The currently executing Thread. */
+Thread * ModelChecker::get_current_thread()
+{
+       return scheduler->get_current_thread();
+}
+
 /** @return a sequence number for a new ModelAction */
 modelclock_t ModelChecker::get_next_seq_num()
 {
@@ -136,6 +146,9 @@ Thread * ModelChecker::get_next_thread(ModelAction *curr)
        ModelAction *next = node_stack->get_next()->get_action();
 
        if (next == diverge) {
+               if (earliest_diverge == NULL || *diverge < *earliest_diverge)
+                       earliest_diverge=diverge;
+
                Node *nextnode = next->get_node();
                /* Reached divergence point */
                if (nextnode->increment_promise()) {
@@ -155,8 +168,12 @@ Thread * ModelChecker::get_next_thread(ModelAction *curr)
                        Node *node = nextnode->get_parent();
                        tid = node->get_next_backtrack();
                        node_stack->pop_restofstack(1);
+                       if (diverge==earliest_diverge) {
+                               earliest_diverge=node->get_action();
+                       }
                }
                DEBUG("*** Divergence point ***\n");
+
                diverge = NULL;
        } else {
                tid = next->get_tid();
@@ -178,8 +195,20 @@ bool ModelChecker::next_execution()
        DBG();
 
        num_executions++;
-       if (isfinalfeasible())
+
+       if (isfinalfeasible()) {
+               printf("Earliest divergence point since last feasible execution:\n");
+               if (earliest_diverge)
+                       earliest_diverge->print(false);
+               else
+                       printf("(Not set)\n");
+
+               earliest_diverge = NULL;
                num_feasible_executions++;
+       }
+
+       DEBUG("Number of acquires waiting on pending release sequences: %lu\n",
+                       pending_acq_rel_seq->size());
 
        if (isfinalfeasible() || DBG_ENABLED())
                print_summary();
@@ -246,8 +275,6 @@ ModelAction * ModelChecker::get_last_conflict(ModelAction *act)
  *
  * @param the ModelAction to find backtracking points for.
  */
-
-
 void ModelChecker::set_backtracking(ModelAction *act)
 {
        Thread *t = get_thread(act);
@@ -336,7 +363,7 @@ bool ModelChecker::process_read(ModelAction *curr, bool second_part_of_rmw)
                        bool r_status = false;
 
                        if (!second_part_of_rmw) {
-                               check_recency(curr);
+                               check_recency(curr, reads_from);
                                r_status = r_modification_order(curr, reads_from);
                        }
 
@@ -376,8 +403,10 @@ bool ModelChecker::process_read(ModelAction *curr, bool second_part_of_rmw)
  *
  * The unlock operation has to re-enable all of the threads that are
  * waiting on the lock.
+ *
+ * @return True if synchronization was updated; false otherwise
  */
-void ModelChecker::process_mutex(ModelAction *curr) {
+bool ModelChecker::process_mutex(ModelAction *curr) {
        std::mutex *mutex = (std::mutex *)curr->get_location();
        struct std::mutex_state *state = mutex->get_state();
        switch (curr->get_type()) {
@@ -399,8 +428,10 @@ void ModelChecker::process_mutex(ModelAction *curr) {
                state->islocked = true;
                ModelAction *unlock = get_last_unlock(curr);
                //synchronize with the previous unlock statement
-               if (unlock != NULL)
+               if (unlock != NULL) {
                        curr->synchronize_with(unlock);
+                       return true;
+               }
                break;
        }
        case ATOMIC_UNLOCK: {
@@ -410,7 +441,7 @@ void ModelChecker::process_mutex(ModelAction *curr) {
                action_list_t *waiters = lock_waiters_map->get_safe_ptr(curr->get_location());
                //activate all the waiting threads
                for (action_list_t::iterator rit = waiters->begin(); rit != waiters->end(); rit++) {
-                       scheduler->add_thread(get_thread((*rit)->get_tid()));
+                       scheduler->wake(get_thread(*rit));
                }
                waiters->clear();
                break;
@@ -418,6 +449,7 @@ void ModelChecker::process_mutex(ModelAction *curr) {
        default:
                ASSERT(0);
        }
+       return false;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -454,11 +486,11 @@ bool ModelChecker::process_write(ModelAction *curr)
  * (e.g., ATOMIC_{READ,WRITE,RMW,LOCK}, etc.)
  *
  * @param curr The current action
- * @return True if synchronization was updated
+ * @return True if synchronization was updated or a thread completed
  */
 bool ModelChecker::process_thread_action(ModelAction *curr)
 {
-       bool synchronized = false;
+       bool updated = false;
 
        switch (curr->get_type()) {
        case THREAD_CREATE: {
@@ -475,7 +507,7 @@ bool ModelChecker::process_thread_action(ModelAction *curr)
                        scheduler->sleep(waiting);
                } else {
                        do_complete_join(curr);
-                       synchronized = true;
+                       updated = true; /* trigger rel-seq checks */
                }
                break;
        }
@@ -486,9 +518,10 @@ bool ModelChecker::process_thread_action(ModelAction *curr)
                        Thread *wake = get_thread(act);
                        scheduler->wake(wake);
                        do_complete_join(act);
-                       synchronized = true;
+                       updated = true; /* trigger rel-seq checks */
                }
                th->complete();
+               updated = true; /* trigger rel-seq checks */
                break;
        }
        case THREAD_START: {
@@ -499,7 +532,7 @@ bool ModelChecker::process_thread_action(ModelAction *curr)
                break;
        }
 
-       return synchronized;
+       return updated;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -520,10 +553,14 @@ ModelAction * ModelChecker::initialize_curr_action(ModelAction *curr)
        if (curr->is_rmwc() || curr->is_rmw()) {
                newcurr = process_rmw(curr);
                delete curr;
-               compute_promises(newcurr);
+
+               if (newcurr->is_rmw())
+                       compute_promises(newcurr);
                return newcurr;
        }
 
+       curr->set_seq_number(get_next_seq_num());
+
        newcurr = node_stack->explore_action(curr, scheduler->get_enabled());
        if (newcurr) {
                /* First restore type and order in case of RMW operation */
@@ -536,18 +573,19 @@ ModelAction * ModelChecker::initialize_curr_action(ModelAction *curr)
                /* Discard duplicate ModelAction; use action from NodeStack */
                delete curr;
 
-               /* If we have diverged, we need to reset the clock vector. */
-               if (diverge == NULL)
-                       newcurr->create_cv(get_parent_action(newcurr->get_tid()));
+               /* Always compute new clock vector */
+               newcurr->create_cv(get_parent_action(newcurr->get_tid()));
        } else {
                newcurr = curr;
+
+               /* Always compute new clock vector */
+               newcurr->create_cv(get_parent_action(newcurr->get_tid()));
                /*
                 * Perform one-time actions when pushing new ModelAction onto
                 * NodeStack
                 */
-               curr->create_cv(get_parent_action(curr->get_tid()));
-               if (curr->is_write())
-                       compute_promises(curr);
+               if (newcurr->is_write())
+                       compute_promises(newcurr);
        }
        return newcurr;
 }
@@ -559,7 +597,6 @@ ModelAction * ModelChecker::initialize_curr_action(ModelAction *curr)
  * @param curr is the ModelAction to check whether it is enabled.
  * @return a bool that indicates whether the action is enabled.
  */
-
 bool ModelChecker::check_action_enabled(ModelAction *curr) {
        if (curr->is_lock()) {
                std::mutex * lock = (std::mutex *)curr->get_location();
@@ -593,10 +630,10 @@ Thread * ModelChecker::check_current_action(ModelAction *curr)
        bool second_part_of_rmw = curr->is_rmwc() || curr->is_rmw();
 
        if (!check_action_enabled(curr)) {
-               //we'll make the execution look like we chose to run this action
-               //much later...when a lock is actually available to relese
+               /* Make the execution look like we chose to run this action
+                * much later, when a lock is actually available to release */
                get_current_thread()->set_pending(curr);
-               remove_thread(get_current_thread());
+               scheduler->sleep(get_current_thread());
                return get_next_thread(NULL);
        }
 
@@ -611,6 +648,7 @@ Thread * ModelChecker::check_current_action(ModelAction *curr)
                build_reads_from_past(curr);
        curr = newcurr;
 
+       /* Initialize work_queue with the "current action" work */
        work_queue_t work_queue(1, CheckCurrWorkEntry(curr));
 
        while (!work_queue.empty()) {
@@ -620,20 +658,24 @@ Thread * ModelChecker::check_current_action(ModelAction *curr)
                switch (work.type) {
                case WORK_CHECK_CURR_ACTION: {
                        ModelAction *act = work.action;
-                       bool updated = false;
+                       bool update = false; /* update this location's release seq's */
+                       bool update_all = false; /* update all release seq's */
 
-                       process_thread_action(curr);
+                       if (process_thread_action(curr))
+                               update_all = true;
 
                        if (act->is_read() && process_read(act, second_part_of_rmw))
-                               updated = true;
+                               update = true;
 
                        if (act->is_write() && process_write(act))
-                               updated = true;
+                               update = true;
 
-                       if (act->is_mutex_op())
-                               process_mutex(act);
+                       if (act->is_mutex_op() && process_mutex(act))
+                               update_all = true;
 
-                       if (updated)
+                       if (update_all)
+                               work_queue.push_back(CheckRelSeqWorkEntry(NULL));
+                       else if (update)
                                work_queue.push_back(CheckRelSeqWorkEntry(act->get_location()));
                        break;
                }
@@ -646,13 +688,15 @@ Thread * ModelChecker::check_current_action(ModelAction *curr)
                        bool updated = false;
 
                        if (act->is_read()) {
-                               if (r_modification_order(act, act->get_reads_from()))
+                               const ModelAction *rf = act->get_reads_from();
+                               if (rf != NULL && r_modification_order(act, rf))
                                        updated = true;
                        }
                        if (act->is_write()) {
                                if (w_modification_order(act))
                                        updated = true;
                        }
+                       mo_graph->commitChanges();
 
                        if (updated)
                                work_queue.push_back(CheckRelSeqWorkEntry(act->get_location()));
@@ -716,6 +760,9 @@ bool ModelChecker::isfeasibleprefix() {
 
 /** @return whether the current partial trace is feasible. */
 bool ModelChecker::isfeasible() {
+       if (DBG_ENABLED() && mo_graph->checkForRMWViolation())
+               DEBUG("Infeasible: RMW violation\n");
+
        return !mo_graph->checkForRMWViolation() && isfeasibleotherthanRMW();
 }
 
@@ -729,10 +776,12 @@ bool ModelChecker::isfeasibleotherthanRMW() {
                        DEBUG("Infeasible: failed promise\n");
                if (too_many_reads)
                        DEBUG("Infeasible: too many reads\n");
+               if (bad_synchronization)
+                       DEBUG("Infeasible: bad synchronization ordering\n");
                if (promises_expired())
                        DEBUG("Infeasible: promises expired\n");
        }
-       return !mo_graph->checkForCycles() && !failed_promise && !too_many_reads && !promises_expired();
+       return !mo_graph->checkForCycles() && !failed_promise && !too_many_reads && !bad_synchronization && !promises_expired();
 }
 
 /** Returns whether the current completed trace is feasible. */
@@ -766,23 +815,21 @@ ModelAction * ModelChecker::process_rmw(ModelAction *act) {
  *
  * If so, we decide that the execution is no longer feasible.
  */
-void ModelChecker::check_recency(ModelAction *curr) {
+void ModelChecker::check_recency(ModelAction *curr, const ModelAction *rf) {
        if (params.maxreads != 0) {
+
                if (curr->get_node()->get_read_from_size() <= 1)
                        return;
-
                //Must make sure that execution is currently feasible...  We could
                //accidentally clear by rolling back
                if (!isfeasible())
                        return;
-
                std::vector<action_list_t> *thrd_lists = obj_thrd_map->get_safe_ptr(curr->get_location());
                int tid = id_to_int(curr->get_tid());
 
                /* Skip checks */
                if ((int)thrd_lists->size() <= tid)
                        return;
-
                action_list_t *list = &(*thrd_lists)[tid];
 
                action_list_t::reverse_iterator rit = list->rbegin();
@@ -801,17 +848,18 @@ void ModelChecker::check_recency(ModelAction *curr) {
                        ModelAction *act = *rit;
                        if (!act->is_read())
                                return;
-                       if (act->get_reads_from() != curr->get_reads_from())
+                       
+                       if (act->get_reads_from() != rf)
                                return;
                        if (act->get_node()->get_read_from_size() <= 1)
                                return;
                }
-
                for (int i = 0; i<curr->get_node()->get_read_from_size(); i++) {
                        //Get write
                        const ModelAction * write = curr->get_node()->get_read_from_at(i);
+
                        //Need a different write
-                       if (write==curr->get_reads_from())
+                       if (write==rf)
                                continue;
 
                        /* Test to see whether this is a feasible write to read from*/
@@ -893,7 +941,11 @@ bool ModelChecker::r_modification_order(ModelAction *curr, const ModelAction *rf
                                        }
                                } else {
                                        const ModelAction *prevreadfrom = act->get_reads_from();
-                                       if (prevreadfrom != NULL && rf != prevreadfrom) {
+                                       //if the previous read is unresolved, keep going...
+                                       if (prevreadfrom == NULL)
+                                               continue;
+
+                                       if (rf != prevreadfrom) {
                                                mo_graph->addEdge(prevreadfrom, rf);
                                                added = true;
                                        }
@@ -921,7 +973,6 @@ bool ModelChecker::r_modification_order(ModelAction *curr, const ModelAction *rf
  * @param rf is the write ModelAction that curr reads from.
  *
  */
-
 void ModelChecker::post_r_modification_order(ModelAction *curr, const ModelAction *rf)
 {
        std::vector<action_list_t> *thrd_lists = obj_thrd_map->get_safe_ptr(curr->get_location());
@@ -935,10 +986,10 @@ void ModelChecker::post_r_modification_order(ModelAction *curr, const ModelActio
                action_list_t::reverse_iterator rit;
                ModelAction *lastact = NULL;
 
-               /* Find last action that happens after curr */
+               /* Find last action that happens after curr that is either not curr or a rmw */
                for (rit = list->rbegin(); rit != list->rend(); rit++) {
                        ModelAction *act = *rit;
-                       if (curr->happens_before(act)) {
+                       if (curr->happens_before(act) && (curr != act || curr->is_rmw())) {
                                lastact = act;
                        } else
                                break;
@@ -946,12 +997,25 @@ void ModelChecker::post_r_modification_order(ModelAction *curr, const ModelActio
 
                        /* Include at most one act per-thread that "happens before" curr */
                if (lastact != NULL) {
-                       if (lastact->is_read()) {
+                       if (lastact==curr) {
+                               //Case 1: The resolved read is a RMW, and we need to make sure
+                               //that the write portion of the RMW mod order after rf
+
+                               mo_graph->addEdge(rf, lastact);
+                       } else if (lastact->is_read()) {
+                               //Case 2: The resolved read is a normal read and the next
+                               //operation is a read, and we need to make sure the value read
+                               //is mod ordered after rf
+
                                const ModelAction *postreadfrom = lastact->get_reads_from();
                                if (postreadfrom != NULL&&rf != postreadfrom)
                                        mo_graph->addEdge(rf, postreadfrom);
-                       } else if (rf != lastact) {
-                               mo_graph->addEdge(rf, lastact);
+                       } else {
+                               //Case 3: The resolved read is a normal read and the next
+                               //operation is a write, and we need to make sure that the
+                               //write is mod ordered after rf
+                               if (lastact!=rf)
+                                       mo_graph->addEdge(rf, lastact);
                        }
                        break;
                }
@@ -1006,14 +1070,22 @@ bool ModelChecker::w_modification_order(ModelAction *curr)
                        ModelAction *act = *rit;
                        if (act == curr) {
                                /*
-                                * If RMW, we already have all relevant edges,
-                                * so just skip to next thread.
-                                * If normal write, we need to look at earlier
-                                * actions, so continue processing list.
+                                * 1) If RMW and it actually read from something, then we
+                                * already have all relevant edges, so just skip to next
+                                * thread.
+                                * 
+                                * 2) If RMW and it didn't read from anything, we should
+                                * whatever edge we can get to speed up convergence.
+                                *
+                                * 3) If normal write, we need to look at earlier actions, so
+                                * continue processing list.
                                 */
-                               if (curr->is_rmw())
-                                       break;
-                               else
+                               if (curr->is_rmw()) {
+                                       if (curr->get_reads_from()!=NULL)
+                                               break;
+                                       else 
+                                               continue;
+                               } else
                                        continue;
                        }
 
@@ -1030,8 +1102,12 @@ bool ModelChecker::w_modification_order(ModelAction *curr)
                                 */
                                if (act->is_write())
                                        mo_graph->addEdge(act, curr);
-                               else if (act->is_read() && act->get_reads_from() != NULL)
+                               else if (act->is_read()) { 
+                                       //if previous read accessed a null, just keep going
+                                       if (act->get_reads_from() == NULL)
+                                               continue;
                                        mo_graph->addEdge(act->get_reads_from(), curr);
+                               }
                                added = true;
                                break;
                        } else if (act->is_read() && !act->is_synchronizing(curr) &&
@@ -1061,7 +1137,6 @@ bool ModelChecker::w_modification_order(ModelAction *curr)
 /** Arbitrary reads from the future are not allowed.  Section 29.3
  * part 9 places some constraints.  This method checks one result of constraint
  * constraint.  Others require compiler support. */
-
 bool ModelChecker::thin_air_constraint_may_allow(const ModelAction * writer, const ModelAction *reader) {
        if (!writer->is_rmw())
                return true;
@@ -1103,6 +1178,10 @@ bool ModelChecker::thin_air_constraint_may_allow(const ModelAction * writer, con
  */
 bool ModelChecker::release_seq_head(const ModelAction *rf, rel_heads_list_t *release_heads) const
 {
+       /* Only check for release sequences if there are no cycles */
+       if (mo_graph->checkForCycles())
+               return false;
+
        while (rf) {
                ASSERT(rf->is_write());
 
@@ -1166,7 +1245,8 @@ bool ModelChecker::release_seq_head(const ModelAction *rf, rel_heads_list_t *rel
                bool future_ordered = false;
 
                ModelAction *last = get_last_action(int_to_id(i));
-               if (last && rf->happens_before(last))
+               if (last && (rf->happens_before(last) ||
+                               last->get_type() == THREAD_FINISH))
                        future_ordered = true;
 
                for (rit = list->rbegin(); rit != list->rend(); rit++) {
@@ -1263,19 +1343,23 @@ bool ModelChecker::resolve_release_sequences(void *location, work_queue_t *work_
                complete = release_seq_head(rf, &release_heads);
                for (unsigned int i = 0; i < release_heads.size(); i++) {
                        if (!act->has_synchronized_with(release_heads[i])) {
-                               updated = true;
-                               act->synchronize_with(release_heads[i]);
+                               if (act->synchronize_with(release_heads[i]))
+                                       updated = true;
+                               else
+                                       set_bad_synchronization();
                        }
                }
 
                if (updated) {
+                       /* Re-check all pending release sequences */
+                       work_queue->push_back(CheckRelSeqWorkEntry(NULL));
                        /* Re-check act for mo_graph edges */
                        work_queue->push_back(MOEdgeWorkEntry(act));
 
                        /* propagate synchronization to later actions */
-                       action_list_t::reverse_iterator it = action_trace->rbegin();
-                       for (; (*it) != act; it++) {
-                               ModelAction *propagate = *it;
+                       action_list_t::reverse_iterator rit = action_trace->rbegin();
+                       for (; (*rit) != act; rit++) {
+                               ModelAction *propagate = *rit;
                                if (act->happens_before(propagate)) {
                                        propagate->synchronize_with(act);
                                        /* Re-check 'propagate' for mo_graph edges */
@@ -1407,16 +1491,20 @@ bool ModelChecker::resolve_promises(ModelAction *write)
                Promise *promise = (*promises)[promise_index];
                if (write->get_node()->get_promise(i)) {
                        ModelAction *read = promise->get_action();
-                       read->read_from(write);
                        if (read->is_rmw()) {
                                mo_graph->addRMWEdge(write, read);
                        }
+                       read->read_from(write);
                        //First fix up the modification order for actions that happened
                        //before the read
                        r_modification_order(read, write);
                        //Next fix up the modification order for actions that happened
                        //after the read.
                        post_r_modification_order(read, write);
+                       //Make sure the promise's value matches the write's value
+                       ASSERT(promise->get_value() == write->get_value());
+
+                       delete(promise);
                        promises->erase(promises->begin() + promise_index);
                        resolved = true;
                } else
@@ -1550,6 +1638,34 @@ static void print_list(action_list_t *list)
        printf("---------------------------------------------------------------------\n");
 }
 
+#if SUPPORT_MOD_ORDER_DUMP
+void ModelChecker::dumpGraph(char *filename) {
+       char buffer[200];
+  sprintf(buffer, "%s.dot",filename);
+  FILE *file=fopen(buffer, "w");
+  fprintf(file, "digraph %s {\n",filename);
+       mo_graph->dumpNodes(file);
+       ModelAction ** thread_array=(ModelAction **)model_calloc(1, sizeof(ModelAction *)*get_num_threads());
+       
+       for (action_list_t::iterator it = action_trace->begin(); it != action_trace->end(); it++) {
+               ModelAction *action=*it;
+               if (action->is_read()) {
+                       fprintf(file, "N%u [label=\"%u, T%u\"];\n", action->get_seq_number(),action->get_seq_number(), action->get_tid());
+                       if (action->get_reads_from()!=NULL)
+                               fprintf(file, "N%u -> N%u[label=\"rf\", color=red];\n", action->get_seq_number(), action->get_reads_from()->get_seq_number());
+               }
+               if (thread_array[action->get_tid()] != NULL) {
+                       fprintf(file, "N%u -> N%u[label=\"sb\", color=blue];\n", thread_array[action->get_tid()]->get_seq_number(), action->get_seq_number());
+               }
+               
+               thread_array[action->get_tid()]=action;
+       }
+  fprintf(file,"}\n");
+       model_free(thread_array);
+  fclose(file);        
+}
+#endif
+
 void ModelChecker::print_summary()
 {
        printf("\n");
@@ -1562,6 +1678,8 @@ void ModelChecker::print_summary()
        char buffername[100];
        sprintf(buffername, "exec%04u", num_executions);
        mo_graph->dumpGraphToFile(buffername);
+       sprintf(buffername, "graph%04u", num_executions);
+  dumpGraph(buffername);
 #endif
 
        if (!isfinalfeasible())
@@ -1585,18 +1703,40 @@ void ModelChecker::add_thread(Thread *t)
  * Removes a thread from the scheduler. 
  * @param the thread to remove.
  */
-
 void ModelChecker::remove_thread(Thread *t)
 {
        scheduler->remove_thread(t);
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Get a Thread reference by its ID
+ * @param tid The Thread's ID
+ * @return A Thread reference
+ */
+Thread * ModelChecker::get_thread(thread_id_t tid)
+{
+       return thread_map->get(id_to_int(tid));
+}
+
+/**
+ * @brief Get a reference to the Thread in which a ModelAction was executed
+ * @param act The ModelAction
+ * @return A Thread reference
+ */
+Thread * ModelChecker::get_thread(ModelAction *act)
+{
+       return get_thread(act->get_tid());
+}
+
 /**
  * Switch from a user-context to the "master thread" context (a.k.a. system
  * context). This switch is made with the intention of exploring a particular
  * model-checking action (described by a ModelAction object). Must be called
  * from a user-thread context.
- * @param act The current action that will be explored. Must not be NULL.
+ *
+ * @param act The current action that will be explored. May be NULL only if
+ * trace is exiting via an assertion (see ModelChecker::set_assert and
+ * ModelChecker::has_asserted).
  * @return Return status from the 'swap' call (i.e., success/fail, 0/-1)
  */
 int ModelChecker::switch_to_master(ModelAction *act)
@@ -1623,6 +1763,7 @@ bool ModelChecker::take_step() {
 
                        priv->nextThread = check_current_action(priv->current_action);
                        priv->current_action = NULL;
+
                        if (curr->is_blocked() || curr->is_complete())
                                scheduler->remove_thread(curr);
                } else {