The intention of this book is to show how algebraic specification methods can be used for software development to support reliability, modifiability and reusability. These methods are introduced by parameterized and module specifications through practical examples and case studies using algebraic specification languages and tools developed at TU Berlin.

Our understanding of real-time systems is rapidly approaching a level of maturity which calls for a consolidation of our present knowledge and experience. Particularly effective in influencing our understanding has been the conjoining of universal algebra with the theory and practice of real-time system development. This interplay between algebraic methodology and software technology (AMAST) for real-time systems is the theme for this book.

This volume includes both asymptotic results on the inevitability of random knotting and linking, and Monte Carlo simulations of knot probability at small lengths. The statistical mechanics and topology of surfaces on the d-dimensional simple cubic lattice are investigated. The energy of knots is studied both analytically and numerically. Vassiliev invariants are investigated and used in random knot simulations. A mutation scheme which leaves the Jones polynomial unaltered is described. Applications include the investigation of RNA secondary structure using Vassiliev invariants, and the...

Language prototyping provides a means to generate language implementations automatically from high-level language definitions. This volume presents an algebraic specification approach to language prototyping, and is centered around the ASF+SDF formalism and meta-environment. The volume is an integrated collection of articles covering a number of case studies, and includes several chapters proposing new techniques for deriving advanced language implementations. The acompanying software is available in the public domain.

Selected researchers were invited to revise talks they had presented at various AMAST workshops for publication here. The 20 studies cover theoretical aspects of real-time systems, verification methods, synthesis methods, extensions to formal languages, tools, and industrial applications.

This text provides presentations of standard computational methods that help avoid pitfalls of the conventional description methods. It also includes approaches to some of the topics that students normally find the most challenging. It has evolved in response to student feedback.

This is a report on the formal definition of the CafeOBJ algebraic specification language, which is a modern successor to the famous algebraic language OBJ. While the equational core of CafeOBJ is just a reshaping of OBJ, CafeOBJ significantly extends OBJ by incorporating several recent major developments in the area of algebraic specification, such as behavioural specification and rewriting logic.

The definition of the language parallels its logical semantics based on the so-called institutions, which also provide a methodological framework for structuring the presentation of the basic...