The use of VDM in the specification of Chinese characters

Abstract

The VDM Meta-IV is an important bridge that joins application domain with implementation. This paper does not address the data reification aspect of the VDM. Rather the importance and centrality of the Meta-IV specification language in providing a “standard” framework for analysis and design is highlighted. In addressing the usefulness of the Meta-IV in the specification, design and implementation of graphical icons for a general purpose User Interface Management System, the authors chose to focus on the domain of Chinese characters — ideograms which have many characteristics in common with graphical icons. Two different (conceptual) models were developed. The first considered the ideogram as a stack of transparencies. The second viewed it as the modular composition of basic mathematical/graphical entities. Specifications of both models in the Meta-IV were developed and the declarative graphical programming language METAFONT was used in the implementation. To facilitate an appropriate entry level into learning and using METAFONT for the task in hand, the VDM Meta-IV was used to provide an abstract model of the language. The results reported indicate that use of the VDM Meta-IV as an expression of a common semantic base was a success.