Abstract
Distributed software built from components has become a mainstay of service-oriented applications, which frequently undergo reconfigurations in order to adapt to changes in their operating environment or their functional requirements. Given the complexity of distributed software and the adverse effects of incorrect reconfigurations, a suitable methodology is needed to ensure the correctness of reconfigurations in component- based systems. This survey gives the reader a global perspective over existing formal techniques that pursue this goal. It distinguishes different ways in which formal methods can improve the reliability of reconfigurations, and lists techniques that contribute to solving each of these particular scientific challenges.