ITEE Ph.D confirmation seminar: Tim McComb, 10.00AM, Tue 06 May 2003

Formal object-oriented design through step-wise refinement

Speaker: Tim McComb, ITEE

When: 10.00AM, Tuesday 06 May 2003

Venue: 78-622

Host: Dr Graeme Smith

Abstract:

  The overall vision of this research is to take and extend previous
  efforts at establishing a refinement methodology for object-oriented
  software, both at a high-level (architectural design and
  refactoring) and a low-level (specification statements and
  executable commands), and establish a synthesised, integral approach
  within the established Object-Z and UML notations.

  My research is focussing on the high-level objectives, the research
  output intending to provide a means to move seamlessly from a
  functional specification through to a concrete, well-structured
  object-oriented design. This involves investigation into the
  implementation of design patterns and architectural decisions as
  part of a formal process of step-wise refinement. A significant part
  of this research task will involve the establishment of an extensive
  set of refinement rules for implementing refactoring transformations
  (known informally as "annealing") with an accompanying
  methodology. Also, an investigation into the quality of the
  resultant designs from the application of this process will be
  necessary.

  Another aim of this research is to allow for the individual
  refinement of subsystems (perhaps even single classes) in Object-Z
  without the need to prove properties regarding the entire
  system. This is a very important feature in providing a practical
  approach, as it allows the developer to use formal methods only
  where necessary -- perhaps in a critical part of the system. The
  rest of the system could then be implemented informally. Other
  languages, such as VDM++ and Z++, cater for this by restricting the
  expressibility of the language. Since expressibility is such an
  important feature of Object-Z, I will be investigating alternative
  means of providing for refinement of individual classes or
  sub-systems: such as the introduction of interfaces (through
  annealing steps) to shield sub-systems away from the rest of the
  system. This approach would more accurately reflect current practice
  in object-oriented design.

Biography:

(biography unavailable)

Type:

Ph.D confirmation

Contact:

Dr Graeme Smith, seminar host (smith@svrc.uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator) (guido@itee.uq.edu.au)

ITEE seminar web page: http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~seminar

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