This invaluable textbook/reference provides an easy-to-read guide to the fundamentals of formal methods, highlighting the rich applications of formal methods across a diverse range of areas of computing.

Topics and features:

• Introduces the key concepts in software engineering, software reliability and dependability, formal methods, and discrete mathematics
• Presents a short history of logic, from Aristotle's syllogistic logic and the logic of the Stoics, through Boole's symbolic logic, to Frege's work on predicate logic
• Covers propositional and predicate logic, as well as more advanced topics such as fuzzy logic, temporal logic, intuitionistic logic, undefined values, and the applications of logic to AI
• Examines the Z specification language, the Vienna Development Method (VDM) and Irish School of VDM, and the unified modelling language (UML)
• Discusses Dijkstra's calculus of weakest preconditions, Hoare's axiomatic semantics of programming languages, and the classical approach of Parnas and his tabular expressions
• Provides coverage of automata theory, probability and statistics, model checking, and the nature of proof and theorem proving
• Reviews a selection of tools available to support the formal methodist, and considers the transfer of formal methods to industry
• Includes review questions and highlights key topics in every chapter, and supplies a helpful glossary at the end of the book

This stimulating guide provides a broad and accessible overview of formal methods for students of computer science and mathematics curious as to how formal methods are applied to the field of computing.

Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer titles as Concise Guide to Software Engineering, Guide to Discrete Mathematics, Introduction to the History of Computing, Pillars of Computing, Introduction to Software Quality, Giants of Computing, and Mathematics in Computing.

Autorentext

Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer titles as Concise Guide to Software Engineering, Guide to Discrete Mathematics, Introduction to the History of Computing, Pillars of Computing, Introduction to Software Quality, Giants of Computing, and Mathematics in Computing.

Inhalt

Software Engineering

Software Reliability and Dependability

Overview of Formal Methods

Sets, Relations and Functions

A Short History of Logic

Propositional and Predicate Logic

Advanced Topics in Logic

Z Formal Specification Language

Vienna Development Method

Irish School of VDM

Unified Modelling Language

Dijkstra, Hoare and Parnas

Automata Theory

Model Checking

The Nature of Theorem Proving Probability and Statistics

Industrial Tools for Formal Methods

Technology Transfer to Industry

Epilogue