Gambit
certora.com
What it is
Gambit is a free, open-source mutation testing tool for Solidity projects. It generates altered contract versions, called mutants, to measure whether a test suite or formal verification specification detects faults. Gambit locates mutation points by traversing a program’s abstract syntax tree and applying predefined syntax transformations. A declarative configuration language lets users tailor mutations to specific parts of a program. Results can be viewed in a dashboard that summarizes mutant verification and calculates a specification score. Gambit can work with the Certora Prover to evaluate formal specifications; that workflow generates mutants and submits a verification job for each to Certora’s server. The command line includes `mutate` for generating mutants and `summary` for presenting them. A compatible `solc` binary is required for the project being mutated. Gambit supports Solidity and is listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows, though prebuilt binaries are available for Linux x86-64 and Mac; Windows and Linux ARM users must build from source. Function-call and swap-arguments-function mutation operators are disabled. The repository identifies the license as MIT. Certora directs product questions to its Help Desk channel on Discord.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Gambit is an open source Solidity mutation testing tool that evaluates and strengthens a testing suite.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Intended users
- The maker describes Gambit as usable on any Solidity project.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Platforms
- Prebuilt binaries are available for Linux x86-64 and Mac; Windows and Linux ARM users must build from source.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Support
- Certora's documentation says product questions can be directed to its Help Desk channel on Discord.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.certora.com
- License
- The Gambit GitHub repository identifies its license as MIT.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maker
- Gambit is built and maintained as an open-source project by the Certora team.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Certora Prover integration
- Gambit mutations can be used with the Certora Prover to evaluate formal specifications as well as tests.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Command line
- Gambit provides `mutate` to generate mutants and `summary` to summarize generated mutants.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Commands
- Gambit provides mutate for generating mutants and summary for presenting generated mutants in a human-readable format.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Compiler requirement
- Gambit uses the Solidity compiler `solc` and requires a compatible binary for the project being mutated.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Dashboard
- Gambit results can be viewed in a dashboard that summarizes mutant verification results and computes a specification score.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Formal specifications
- Gambit mutants can be used to evaluate both tests and formal specifications.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- How it works
- Gambit introduces faults called mutants into selected contracts and measures whether a test suite detects them.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Installation
- Prebuilt binaries are available for Linux x86-64 and Mac; Windows and Linux ARM users must build from source.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Mutant detection
- Gambit measures how well a test suite detects generated mutants, with more detected mutants indicating a stronger suite.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Mutant generation
- Gambit applies predefined syntax transformations to Solidity source code to generate program variants called mutants.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Mutation generation
- Gambit traverses a Solidity program’s abstract syntax tree to identify valid mutation points and generate variable mutants.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Mutation limits
- The README lists function-call mutation and swap-arguments-function mutation as disabled operators.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Mutation points
- Gambit traverses a Solidity program's abstract syntax tree to identify valid mutation points.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Mutation selection
- Users can customize and localize mutations to specific program parts using a declarative configuration language.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Other tools
- The maker describes Gambit as usable with Solidity testing and verification tools generally, and with any Solidity project.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Prover integration
- Gambit is integrated with Certora Prover for evaluating the strength of verification rules.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Prover workflow
- Using the mutation verifier generates mutants and submits a verification job for each mutant to Certora's server.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.certora.com
- Results
- The Gambit dashboard summarizes mutant verification results and computes a score to evaluate a specification.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Targeted mutations
- Users can customize and localize mutants to specific program parts with a declarative configuration language.Read 7 Oct 2026 · certora.com
- Testing and specifications
- Generated mutants can be used to evaluate test suites and formal verification specifications.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Evaluates test suites and formal specifications.
- Users can target mutations to specific program parts.
- Dashboard summarizes results and computes a specification score.
- Provides `mutate` and `summary` commands.
- MIT-licensed and free.
Limits
- Requires a compatible `solc` binary.
- Windows and Linux ARM users must build from source.
- Function-call and swap-arguments-function operators are disabled.
Who it suits
Gambit suits developers working on Solidity projects who want to assess tests or formal specifications by checking whether they catch generated mutants. It can also be used with the Certora Prover to evaluate verification rules.
Verdict
Gambit provides configurable mutation testing for Solidity and can assess both tests and formal verification specifications. Check compiler compatibility and platform build requirements, and note that two listed mutation operators are disabled.
Where Specifiction places it
- Mutation Testing Tools#8 of 257.8
