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Logic versus Magic in Critical Systems

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Reliable SoftwareTechnologies — Ada-Europe 2001 (Ada-Europe 2001)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2043))

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Abstract

A prevailing trend in software engineering is the use of tools which apparently simplify the problem to be solved. Often, however, this results in complexity being concealed or “magicked away”. For the most critical of systems, where a credible case for safety and integrity must be made prior to there being any service experience, we cannot tolerate concealed complexity and must be able to reason logically about the behaviour of the system. The paper draws on real-life project experience to identify some historical and current magics and their effect on high-integrity software development; this is contrasted with the cost and quality benefits that can be made from taking a more logical and disciplined approach.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Praxis Critical Systems, 20 Manvers St., Bath, BA1 1PX, UK

    Peter Amey

Authors
  1. Peter Amey
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Offis nv/sa - Aubay Group, Offis & K.U. Leuven, Weiveldlaan 41/32, 1930, Zaventem, Belgium

    Dirk Craeynest

  2. EPFL-DI-LGL, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne EPFL, Switzerland

    Alfred Strohmeier

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Amey, P. (2001). Logic versus Magic in Critical Systems. In: Craeynest, D., Strohmeier, A. (eds) Reliable SoftwareTechnologies — Ada-Europe 2001. Ada-Europe 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2043. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45136-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45136-6_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42123-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-45136-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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