Relay-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 +2.11; site UK.AC.OX.PRGV Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 +2.11; site UK.AC.OX.PRGV Path: OX.PRGV!daemon From: Ruaridh Macdonald (on UK.MOD.RSRE) Newsgroups: zforum Subject: Z Forum Issue 8 Message-ID: <1703@UK.AC.OX.PRGV> Date: 29 Jul 86 10:44:57 GMT Date-Received: 29 Jul 86 10:44:57 GMT Sender: daemon@UK.AC.OX.PRGV Organization: PRG, Oxford University, UK Lines: 126 29th July 1986 Z FORUM Volume 1 Issue 8 -------------- ------- ---------------- Today's Topic ------------- Z Course --------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 24 Jul 86 09:27:57 GMT From: Steve King Subject: Z course at Oxford A N N O U N C E M E N T The Programming Research Group, Oxford University, is arranging a course on MATHEMATICS FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERING Date: 31st August - 12th September, 1986 Location: Wolfson College Linton Road Oxford OBJECTIVES The primary objective of the two week course is to provide an introduction to the Z notation and the Z approach to software documentation and development. Z is based on mathematics, and a secondary objective of the course is to demonstrate how results from this discipline can be applied to the specification, the design and the reliable construction of computer systems. The development of computer systems of quality is a major challenge, and we will demonstrate how mathematical abstractions, structures, axioms and equations can be used to master the complexity of projects, to improve the documentation and to develop correct code. THE Z NOTATION CONSISTS OF: 1. The Set Theoretical Language, which is similar to a conventional set theoretic notation, but extended with a small number of concepts which allow the 'specifier' to deal easily with concepts, structures and rules which are commonly encountered during the development of software systems. 2. The Schema Language is a simple language for presenting mathematical text within specification/design documentation, and for managing the complexity that arises from the large number of concepts involved in the description of practical systems. THE Z APPROACH CONSISTS OF: 1. Conventions and Style Experience shows that the use of a mathematical notation such as set theory often leads to most unwieldy descriptions when applied to practical systems. The most important part of the Z approach is the conventions and the style which have been adopted for using the Schema Language when presenting descriptions in the Set Theoretic Language. These conventions encourage the separation of concerns and allow for concepts of the system which is being documented to be formally explained in the simplest possible context. This in turn leads to reusable specifications. The conventions are applied to the 'construction' of large documents and use the facilities of the Schema Language to combine existing formalised explanations into explanations of 'compound' concepts, and to update previously formalized explanations. The style in Z documents is a mixture of informal text (e.g. English, pictures) and formal mathematical text. This style enables these documents to be used by other than chief designers (e.g. developers, users, technical writers, managers). 2. A method for analysing the formal parts of a document with the aim to remove contradiction. If a set of requirements is contradictory, a system which meets these requirements cannot be built, and further development of the system should be stopped until the contradictions are removed. 3. A method for formally analysing whether an implementation meets its specification. During development of a system, decisions are made with respect to the representation of Information and with respect to the order of execution of statements in a sequential algorithm. These decisions can be formalised and proved to be consistent with the formally stated requirements. COST 1100 pounds per person. This covers course fees, accommodation and meals. (Including weekend of 6th and 7th) REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION Any enquiries should be made to: Lucy Probert (0865) 54141 Ex. 305 As there are a limited number of places available (22), please send your registration together with a non-refundable deposit of 200 pounds as soon as possible, (not later than 31st July) to: Z COURSE (Wolfson College) Att: Lucy Probert P.R.G. 8-11 Keble Road Oxford OX1 3QD ************************ END OF Z FORUM 1.8 *************************