Notations for software design

Notations for Software Design presents a wide variety of formal, mathematically-based, textual notations for describing software systems. Together these notations cover every stage of the software design process.

Formal approaches to software development are currently being implemented by many companies. This volume explains formal specification and design using COLD-1, a wide-spectrum language which supports a variety of specification styles. COLD-1 was developed in an industrial environment in cooperation with academic research groups and partners in ESPRIT projects, and is now being used in real product design. Detailed case studies are used to show the language in action.

The authors also create an important link between current and future practice by covering a number of commonly-used informal techniques, such as Venn diagrams and Petri nets.

Notations for Software Design will enable the reader to develop a working knowledge of a wide variety of formal notations, and to use and apply these notations effectively. It will provide invaluable reading for practitioners in software development who are interested in using formal notations for producing dependable software, and will also be of interest to students of computer science.