Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T07:50:50.829Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Declarative specifications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2009

Norbert E. Fuchs
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Email: [email protected]
David Robertson
Affiliation:
Department of Artificial Intelligence, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Deriving formal specifications from informal requirements is extremely difficult since one has to overcome the conceptual gap between an application domain and the domain of formal specification methods. To reduce this gap we introduce application-specific specification languages, i.e., graphical and textual notations that can be unambiguously mapped to formal specifications in a logic language. We describe a number of realised approaches based on this idea, and evaluate them with respect to their domain specificity vs. generality.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Börger, E and Rosenzweig, D, 1994. “A mathematical definition of full Prolog” Science of Computer Programming.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bundy, A, Byrd, L, Luger, G, Mellish, C and Milne, R, 1979. “Solving mechanics problems using meta-level inference” In Buchanan, BG (ed), Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI).Google Scholar
Fromherz, MPJ, 1993. “A methodology for executable specifications-combining logic programming, object-orientation and multiple views” PhD thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Fuchs, NE and Fromherz, MPJ, 1994. “Transformational development of logic programs from executable specifications-schema-based visual and textual composition of logic programs” In Beckstein, C and Geske, U (eds), Entwicklung, Test und Wartung deklarativer KI-Programme GMD Studien Nr. 238, Gesellschaft für Informatik und Datenverarbeitung, pp 1328.Google Scholar
Fuchs, NE and Schwitter, R, 1996. “Attempto Controlled English (ACE)” CLAW 96, First International Workshop on Controlled Language Applications University of Leuven, Belgium, 03.Google Scholar
Hesketh, J, Robertson, D, Fuchs, N and Bundy, A, 1996. “Automating reasoning support for design” Research paper, Department of Artificial Intelligence, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.Google Scholar
Kowalski, RA, 1985. The Relation Between Logic Programming and Logic Specification Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Lloyd, JW, 1987. Foundations of Logic Programming Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kramer, B and Mylopoulos, J, 1992. “Knowledge representation” In Shapiro, SC (ed) Encyclopedia of Artificial Intelligence Wiley.Google Scholar
Lloyd, J, 1994. “Practical advantages of declarative programming” Invited lecture, GULP-PRODE '94, Peñiscola, Spain.Google Scholar
Pulman, S and Rayner, M, 1994. “Computer Processable Controlled Language” SRI International Cambridge Computer Science Research Centre, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Luqi, BR, 1993. “Process knowledge based rapid prototyping for requirements engineering” Proceedings IEEE Symposium on Requirements Engineering San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
Robertson, D, Bundy, A, Muetzelfeldt, R, Haggith, M and Uschold, M, 1991. Eco-Logic: Logic-Based Approaches to Ecological Modelling MIT Press (Logic Programming Series).Google Scholar
Robertson, D, 1996. “Distributed specification” Proceedings 12th European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI-96) Budapest, Hungary.Google Scholar
Robertson, D and Hesketh, J, 1994. “Making specification design more accountable” Proceedings ONR/ARPA/AFOSR/ARO/NSF Workshop on Increasing the Practical Impact of Formal Methods Monterey, CA.Google Scholar
Schwitter, R and Fuchs, NE, 1996. “Attempto—from specifications in controlled natural language towards executable specifications” GI EMISA Workshop Natürlichsprachlicher Entwurf von Informationssystemen, Tutzing.Google Scholar
Schwitter, R and Fuchs, NE, 1996. “Attempto Controlled English (ACE)—a seemingly informal bridgehead in formal territory” Extended abstract. In Fuchs, NE and Geske, U (eds) Proceedings Poster Session, JICSLP '96, Joint International Conference and Symposium on Logic Programming Bad Honnef, Germany.Google Scholar
Sterling, L, 1992. “A role for Prolog in software engineering” Computer Science Colloquium Department of Computer Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland.Google Scholar