Author(s)

D.M. Ayres

Abstract

Documenting the software lifecycle using formal methods D.M. Ayres AEA Technology, Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorchester, ABSTRACT Much has been claimed about the benefits of using formal methods to ob- tain reliable software. However, software quality is not only concerned with writing software which is correct, but with writing software which is demon- strably correct. This paper shows how formal methods can be used as a tool for developing software and for providing clear step-by-step documentation of the development processes. The role of formal specification in requirements capture is discussed, with emphasis on the use of a formal notation as a tool for thinking about, communicating and recording specifications as they evolve from a nebulous initial concept to a specification which may be developed into code. Consid- eration is given to techniques for validating a specification; for demonstrat- ing that relevant properties of the system are captured in the specification.

Keywords