Software Specification Methods

This title provides a clear overview of the main methods, and has a practical focus that allows the reader to apply their knowledge to real-life situations. The following are just some of the techniques covered: UML, Z, TLA+, SAZ, B, OMT, VHDL, Estelle, SDL and LOTOS.

This book provides an introduction to program specification, illustrating the advantages it confers upon the software development process. Covering all three major specification languages (Larch, VDM, and Z), the book discusses specification in general, the abstraction process, the mathematical tools required, and the main formal methods.

Software Specification Methods provides the formal methods practitioner with a survey of the key software specification methods. Each technique is demonstrated using the same case study, an invoicing system, to enable the reader to compare and contrast easily. Among the techniques covered are: UML; Z; SAZ; B; JSD; OMT; VHDL; Estelle; SDL; LOTOS. This book is intended for industrial and commercial practitioners who need to expand their knowledge of software specification methods. This book provides a basic overview of the main methods, with a practical focus which allows readers to apply their knowledge to real-life situations.

This extensively revised and updated new edition of Specification of Software Systems builds upon the original focus on software specification with added emphasis on the practice of formal methods for specification and verification activities for different types of software systems and at different stages of developing software systems. Topics and features: provides a wide coverage of formal specification techniques and a clear writing style, supported by end-of-chapter bibliographic notes for further reading; presents a logical structure, with sections devoted to specification fundamentals, basics of formalism, logic, set theory and relations, property-oriented specification methods, and model-based specification techniques; contains end-of-chapter exercises and numerous case studies, with potential course outlines suggested in the Preface; covers Object-Z, B-Method, and Calculus of Communicating Systems; offers material that can be taught with tool-supported laboratory projects.

Based on material used by the authors in their teaching, this volume provides a detailed comparison and study of the various methods for reasoning about software. The material offers a comprehensive understanding of which program structures are easier to manipulate by formal techniques, thus allowing professionals to write programs that are easier to reason about informally. The basic technology presented should be of use in all programming environments.

This book constitutes the documentation of the scientific outcome of the priority program Integration of Software Specification Techniques for Applications in Engineering sponsored by the German Research Foundation (DFG). It includes main contributions of the projects of the priority program and of additional international experts in the field. Some of the papers included were presented at the related Third International Workshop on the topic, INT 2004, held in Barcelona, Spain in March 2004. The 25 revised full papers presented together with 6 section introductions by the volume editors were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the book. The papers are organized in topical sections on reference case study production automation, reference case study traffic control systems, petri nets and related approaches in engineering, charts, verification, and integration modeling.

The intention of this book is to show how algebraic specification methods can be used for software development to support reliability, modifiability and reusability. These methods are introduced by parameterized and module specifications through practical examples and case studies using algebraic specification languages and tools developed at TU Berlin.

Most IT systems fail to meet expectations. They don't meet business goals and don't support users efficiently. Why? Because the requirements didn't address the right issues. Writing a good requirements specification doesn't take more time. This book shows how it's done - many times faster and many times smarter. What are the highlights? Two complete real-life requirements specifications (the traditional and the fast approach) and examples from many others. Explanations of both traditional and fast approaches, and discussions of their strengths and weaknesses in different project types (tailor-made, COTS, and product development). Real-life illustrations of all types of requirements, stakeholder analysis, cost/benefit and other techniques to ensure that business goals are met. Proven methods for dealing with difficult or complex requirements, such as specifying ease-of-use, or dealing with 200 reports that might be needed because they are in the old system. Who is it for? Everyone involved in the software supply chain, from analysts and developers to end users, will learn new techniques, benefit from requirements written by other specialists, and discover successes and failures from other companies. Software suppliers will find ideas for helping customers and writing competitive proposals. Programmers and other developers will learn how to express requirements without specifying technical details, and how to reduce risks when developing a system. Students aspiring to IT careers will learn the theory and practice of requirements engineering, and get a strong foundation for case studies and projects. Who is the author? Soren Lauesen is currently professor at the IT-University of Copenhagen. He has worked in the IT industry for 20 years and has been a professor at Copenhagen Business School for 15. He has been co-founder of three educational and two industrial development organizations. His industry projects have encompassed compilers, operating systems, process control, temporal databases, and software quality assurance. His research interests include human-computer interaction, requirements specification, object-oriented design, quality assurance, marketing and product development, and interaction between research and industry. He has a broad range of other interests ranging from biology to dancing and foreign cultures.