Combining UML and Z in a Software Process

Observing students writing specification in UML and Z has motivated the work presented in this paper. There is a need to add formal specification to diagrammatic notations such as UML and there is even a greater requirement to examine where in the software life cycle Z specifications are most useful. The Z language allows us to use abstraction in software development but UML has rich constructs for modelling systems with concise diagrams. Languages are only islands and need to be accompanied with methods that show their usage in a process. The Unified Process has been developed to use with UML. This paper examines how UML can be augmented with Z and where in the Unified Process Z specifications fit best