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Automatic derivation of formal software specifications from informal descriptionsSPECIFIER, an interactive system which derives formal specifications of data types and programs from their informal descriptions, is described. The process of deriving formal specifications is viewed as a problem-solving process. The system uses common problem-solving techniques such as schemas, analogy, and difference-based reasoning to derive formal specifications. If an informal description is a commonly occurring operation for which the system has a schema, then the formal specification is derived by instantiating the schema. If there is no such schema, SPECIFIER tries to find a previously solved problem which is analogous to the current problem. If the problem found is directly analogous to the current problem, it applies an analogy mapping to obtain a formal specification. On the other hand, if the analogy found is only approximate, it solves the directly analogous part of the problem by analogy and performs difference-based reasoning using the remaining (unmatched) parts to transform the formal specification obtained by analogy to a formal specification for the entire original problem.
Document ID
19920039673
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Miriyala, Kanth
(Andersen Consulting Chicago, IL, United States)
Harandi, Mehdi T.
(Illinois, University Urbana, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Volume: 17
ISSN: 0098-5589
Subject Category
Computer Programming And Software
Accession Number
92A22297
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG1-613
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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