Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A case for structured analysis/formal design

  • Papers
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
VDM'91 Formal Software Development Methods (VDM 1991)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 551))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Both formal methods and structured methods in software development have disadvantages inherent to the class of methods they belong to. A better method may be composed by taking the best of a formal method and the best of a structured method and constructing one, new method. In this paper two approaches to transforming data flow diagrams, the main system representation resulting from SA, to constructs in VDM are described. Each approach can be used as a basis for a combined SA/VDM method. A comparison is made between the two presented models by analyzing their characteristics. Some conclusions on the usability of the combination of SA and VDM are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Mike Adler. An Algebra for Data Flow Diagram Process Decomposition. IEEE Transaction on Software Engineering, 14(2):169–183, February 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bruno Alabiso. Transformation of Data Flow Analysis Models to Object Oriented Design. In OOPSLA '88 Proceedings, pages 335–353, ACM, November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. Bjørner, C.B. Jones. Formal Specification & Software Development. Series in Computer Science, Prentice-Hall International, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  4. P.D. Bruza, Th. P. van der Weide. The Semantics of Data Flow Diagrams. Technical Report 89-16, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, October 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  5. BSI IST/5/-/50. VDM Specification Language: Proto-Standard. March 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chr. Chedgey, S. Kearney, H.J. Kugler. Using VDM in an Object-oriented Development Method for Ada Software. In D. Bjørner, C.B. Jones, editor, VDM — A Formal Method at Work; proc. of the 1st VDM-Europe Symposium, pages 63–76, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, March 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  7. L.L. Constantine, E. Yourdon. Structured Design. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Tom DeMarco. Structured Analysis and System Specification. Yourdon Press, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  9. M.D. Fraser, K. Kumar, V.K. Vaishnavi. Informal and Formal Requirements Specification Languages: Bridging the Gap. IEEE Transactions on Software Engeneering, 17(5):454–466, May 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chris Gane, Trish Sarson. Structured Systems Analysis: Tools and Techniques. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Anthony Hall. Seven Myths of Formal Methods. IEEE Software, 7(5):11–19, September 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  12. C.B. Jones. Systematic Software Development using VDM (2nd edition). Series in Computer Science, Prentice-Hall International, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Richard A. Kemmerer. Integrating Formal Methods into the Development Process. IEEE Software, 7(5):37–50, September 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Peter Gorm Larsen, Nico Plat, Hans Toetenel. A Complete Formal Semantics of Data Flow Diagrams. Technical Report, Delft University of Technology, September 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Peter Gorm Larsen, Jan van Katwijk, Nico Plat, Kees Pronk, Hans Toetenel. SVDM: An Integrated Combination of SA and VDM. Submitted to the Methods Integration Workshop in Leeds, UK, September 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nancy G. Leveson. Software Safety in Embedded Computer Systems. Communications of the ACM, 34(2):34–46, February 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  17. G. Longworth, D. Nicholls. SSADM Manual. NCC, December 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  18. G.J. Myers. Reliable Software through Composite Design. Van Nostrand, New York, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Nico Plat, Peter Gorm Larsen, Hans Toetenel. Formal Transformations: Using SA and VDM as different Views in Software Development. Submitted to the International Conference on Computer Systems and Software Engineering (CompEuro'92), May 1992, The Hague, The Netherlands, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  20. G.P. Randell. Translating Data Flow Diagrams into Z (and Vice Versa). Technical Report 90019, Procurement Executive, Ministry of Defence, RSRE, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK, October 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lesley Semmens, Pat Allen. Using Entity Relationship Models as a basis for Z Specifications.

    Google Scholar 

  22. I. Sommerville. Software Engineering. Addison-Wesley, London, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hans Toetenel, Jan van Katwijk, Nico Plat. Structured Analysis — Formal Design, using Stream & Object oriented Formal Specification. Software Engineering Notes, 15(4):118–127, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Paul T. Ward, Stephen J. Mellor. Structured Development for Real-Time Systems. Yourdon Press Computing Series, Yourdon Press, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  25. E. Yourdon. Techniques of Program Structure and Design. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Technical Mathematics and Informatics, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 356, NL-2600, AJ Delft, The Netherlands

    Nico Plat, Jan van Katwijk & Kees Pronk

Authors
  1. Nico Plat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan van Katwijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kees Pronk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

S. Prehn W. J. Toetenel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Plat, N., van Katwijk, J., Pronk, K. (1991). A case for structured analysis/formal design. In: Prehn, S., Toetenel, W.J. (eds) VDM'91 Formal Software Development Methods. VDM 1991. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 551. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-54834-3_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-54834-3_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-54834-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46449-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation