695 research outputs found
Operational specification for FCA using Z
We present an outline of a process by which operational software requirements specifications can be written for Formal Concept Analysis (FCA). The Z notation is used to specify the FCA model and the formal operations on it. We posit a novel approach whereby key features of Z and FCA can be integrated and put to work in contemporary software development, thus promoting operational specification as a useful application of conceptual structures.</p
A Historical Perspective on Runtime Assertion Checking in Software Development
This report presents initial results in the area of software testing and analysis produced as part of the Software Engineering Impact Project. The report describes the historical development of runtime assertion checking, including a description of the origins of and significant features associated with assertion checking mechanisms, and initial findings about current industrial use. A future report will provide a more comprehensive assessment of development practice, for which we invite readers of this report to contribute information
Z Unification Tools in Generic Formaliser
We describe some prototype tools for performing unification (i.e. deriving the least common refinement) of simple Z specifications. The techniques used are those described in http://alethea.ukc.ac.uk/Dept/Computing/Research/NDS/consistency/cccfpsiZ.html on viewpoint specification in Z; the tools have been implemented in Generic http://public.logica.com/formaliser (a product of Logica UK Limited). UKC Computing Laboratory technical report 10-97. The prototype tools themselves (in the form of Generic Formaliser grammars) will be made available later
Z-style notation for Probabilities
A notation for probabilities is proposed that differs from the traditional, conventional notation by making explicit the domains and bound variables involved. The notation borrows from the Z notation, and lends itself well to calculational manipulations, with a smooth transition back and forth to set and predicate notation
Unification and multiple views of data in Z
This paper discusses the unification of Z specifications, in particular specifications that maintain different representations of what is intended to be the same datatype. Essentially this amounts to integrating previously published techniques for combining multiple viewpoints and for combining multiple views. It is shown how the technique proposed in this paper indeed produces unifications, and that it generalises both previous techniques
Determining the quality of mathematical software using reference data sets
This paper describes a methodology for evaluating the numerical accuracy of software that performs mathematical calculations. The authors explain how this methodology extends the concept of metrological traceability, which is fundamental to measurement, to include software quality.
Overviews of two European Union-funded projects are also presented. The first project developed an infrastructure to allow software to be verified by testing, via the internet, using reference data sets. The primary focus of the project was software used within systems that make physical measurements. The second project, currently underway, explores using this infrastructure to verify mathematical software used within general scientific and engineering disciplines.
Publications on using reference data sets for the verification of mathematical software are usually intended for a readership specialising in measurement science or mathematics. This paper is aimed at a more general readership, in particular software quality specialists and computer scientists. Further engagement with experts in these disciplines will be helpful to the continued development of this application of software quality
Formalization and Validation of Safety-Critical Requirements
The validation of requirements is a fundamental step in the development
process of safety-critical systems. In safety critical applications such as
aerospace, avionics and railways, the use of formal methods is of paramount
importance both for requirements and for design validation. Nevertheless, while
for the verification of the design, many formal techniques have been conceived
and applied, the research on formal methods for requirements validation is not
yet mature. The main obstacles are that, on the one hand, the correctness of
requirements is not formally defined; on the other hand that the formalization
and the validation of the requirements usually demands a strong involvement of
domain experts. We report on a methodology and a series of techniques that we
developed for the formalization and validation of high-level requirements for
safety-critical applications. The main ingredients are a very expressive formal
language and automatic satisfiability procedures. The language combines
first-order, temporal, and hybrid logic. The satisfiability procedures are
based on model checking and satisfiability modulo theory. We applied this
technology within an industrial project to the validation of railways
requirements
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