Formal Methods for Software Engineering: Languages, Methods, Application Domains

Software programs are formal entities with precise meanings independent of their programmers, so the transition from ideas to programs necessarily involves a formalization at some point. This graduate-level introduction to formal methods develops an understanding of what constitutes formal methods and their place in Software Engineering. It also introduces logics as languages to describe reasoning and the process algebra CSP as a language to represent behaviors. The second part offers specification and testing methods for formal development of software, based on the modeling languages CASL and UML. The third part takes the reader into the application domains of normative documents, human-machine interfaces, and security.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 524 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Software programs, as formal entities with precise meanings independent of their programmers, undergo a crucial transition from ideas to executable programs. This transformation necessitates a formalization process at some point. In this comprehensive graduate-level introduction to formal methods, we delve into the realm of formal methods and their significance in Software Engineering.

The first part of the book establishes a foundational understanding of what constitutes formal methods and their role in software development. It introduces logics as languages for describing reasoning and process algebra CSP as a language for representing behaviors. These formal frameworks provide a structured approach to reasoning and behavior specification.

The second part of the book focuses on specification and testing methods for formal software development. It builds upon the modelling languages CASL and UML, which are used to describe and model software systems. These methods enable the rigorous analysis and verification of software designs, ensuring their correctness and reliability.

The third part of the book takes the reader into the application domains of normative documents, human-machine interfaces, and security. It explores the use of notations and formalisms in these domains, highlighting their importance in ensuring the correctness and integrity of software systems.

Topics and features:

• Explains foundations and introduces specification, verification, and testing methods.
• Explores various application domains, including normative documents, human-machine interfaces, and security.
• Presents realistic and practical examples, illustrating concepts and theories.
• Brings together contributions from highly experienced educators and researchers.
• Offers modelling and analysis methods for formal development of software.
• Suitable for graduate and undergraduate courses in software engineering, as well as to students in informatics, and scientists and practical engineers who want to learn about or work more effectively with formal theories and methods.

Markus Roggenbach, a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Swansea University, is the author of this textbook. Antonio Cerone, an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, also contributes to the book. Bernd-Holger Schlingloff, a Professor in the Institute for Informatik at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, also serves as a co-author.

This textbook is a valuable resource for graduate and undergraduate students in software engineering, as well as to professionals in informatics, and scientists and practical engineers who seek to enhance their understanding and application of formal theories and methods in software development.

Weight: 834g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030388027
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022