This paper describes a method for specification-based class testing that incorporates test case generation, execution, and evaluation based on formal specifications. This work builds on previous achievements in the areas of specification-based testing and class testing by integrating the two within a single framework. The initial step of the method is to generate test templates for individual o...

Object oriented constraint programs (OOCPs) emerge as a leading evolution of constraint programming and artificial intelligence, first applied to a range of industrial applications called configuration problems. The rich variety of technical approaches to solving configuration problems (CLP(FD), CC(FD), DCSP, Terminological systems, constraint programs with set variables, . . . ) is a source of...

In the area of software engineering there have been very few efforts to automate the translation from specifications written in natural language to the formal specification languages. Writing of the specifications in natural language is always depending on context and it is commonly vagueness; this represents the major reasons of the challenge. This paper discusses the design of a tool for tran...

Active objects have their own thread of control and passive objects are controlled by others. In Object-Z, all objects are modelled as passive objects. Timed Communicating Object Z (TCOZ) extends the Object-Z notation with Timed CSP’s process and timing constructs. The blending of the concepts of object and non-terminating process leads to the notion of active object in TCOZ. This paper conside...

Observing students writing specification in UML and Z has motivated the work presented in this paper. There is a need to add formal specification to diagrammatic notations such as UML and there is even a greater requirement to examine where in the software life cycle Z specifications are most useful. The Z language allows us to use abstraction in software development but UML has rich constructs...

Safety critical systems, such as aviation systems controlled by software, often have hard real-time requirements. Producing the correct result at the right time is the fundamental goal of such systems. Formally specifying the system functions and the timing requirements is the crucial step towards achieving such a goal. Aviation systems often need to be modified or upgraded on a regular basis, ...