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Formal methods and the engineering paradigm

  • Session 4: Formal Methods and Engineering Instruction
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Software Engineering Education (SEI 1992)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 640))

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Abstract

The snail's pace of formal methods adoption disappoints those who believe such techniques are important for software engineering. My thesis is that the failure of formal methods to have much impact is a consequence of a general misunderstanding of the engineering paradigm. Most formal methods proponents have backgrounds in science or mathematics, where the rules for adoption of a new system are clear cut and unambiguous. The engineering method, however, is grounded in the use and application of heuristics, several of which relate to the application of science. This paper discusses the role of formal methods in the context of the engineering method. Several approaches to increase the use of formal methods are proposed based on this analysis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York

    Michael J. Lutz

Authors
  1. Michael J. Lutz
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Editor information

Carol Sledge

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Lutz, M.J. (1992). Formal methods and the engineering paradigm. In: Sledge, C. (eds) Software Engineering Education. SEI 1992. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 640. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55963-9_44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55963-9_44

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-55963-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47330-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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