CASL
The CoFI Algebraic Specification Language
Design Proposal

by The CoFI Task Group on Language Design

14 May (updated 20, 27 May) 1997

This document is available by FTP in various formats. It was converted to HTML using Hyperlatex 2.2.

Abstract

This and the accompanying documents comprise the complete CASL Design Proposal, which is hereby submitted by CoFI to the IFIP Working Group on Foundations of System Specification, WG 1.3.

Documents

The final adjustments to the proposed design for CASL have just been made, and are reflected in version 0.97 of the CASL Summary [LD97c], which gives an abstract syntax for CASL and informally describes the intended semantics. The Rationale for CoFI [CoF97] and for the CASL Proposed Design [LD97b] have now been updated to version 0.97 too. A summary of the intended tools [Too97] for CASL has been provided by the Tools Task Group. Both Syntax and Examples proposals [KB97][VBC97] have now been updated too. Would all meeting participants please bring their copies of all the above documents with them to Tarquinia!

The draft Formal Semantics [Sem97] is currently being updated to version 0.97. It is currently available only in the version corresponding to version 0.95 of the Summary. Printed copies of the updated version of this document will be made available at the IFIP meeting, as it is expected to be ready only a few days beforehand; however, the current version generally gives a good impression of what may be expected, so one may like to browse or print it straight away.

The overall CoFI coordinator must apologize to IFIP WG 1.3 for not having been able to provide final versions of all the documents at the time of submission of this Design Proposal. The submission reflects the best that we could manage with the time and (voluntary) resources available.

One further accompanying document is being provided: a record of dissenting views concerning particular points of the CASL Proposed Design [LD97a]. Although there appears to be broad support for most of the design within the CoFI Task Group on Language Design, some participants (including the coordinator of the language design!) feel that the decisions were sometimes too hasty; their views should, of course, be made available to IFIP WG 1.3 in an organized form, apart from being discussed on the relevant mailing-list (cofi-language@brics.dk).

Documents already available:

  • CoFI Rationale (v0.97-20 May) [CoF97]
  • CASL Rationale (v0.97-20 May) [LD97b]
  • CASL Summary (v0.97-20 May) [LD97c]
  • CASL Intended Tools (20 May) [Too97]
  • CASL Semantics (v0.95-10 April) [Sem97]
  • CASL Syntax and Examples (v0.97 Bremen, Paris) [KB97][VBC97]
  • Documents to appear:

  • CASL Dissent (dynamic) [LD97a]
  • CASL Semantics (v0.97 DRAFT-29 May)
  • CASL Intended Methodology (during Methodology meeting...)
  • References

     [CoF97]
    CoFI. CoFI - The Common Framework Initiative for Algebraic Specification and Development - Rationale. CoFI Document: Rationale. WWW, FTP, May 1997.
     [KB97]
    Bernd Krieg-Brückner. A proposal for a concrete syntax for CASL. Revised version: Postscript, May 1997.
     [LD97a]
    CoFI Task Group on Language Design. CASL - The CoFI Algebraic Specification Language - Notes of Dissent from the Design Proposal. CoFI Document: CASL/Dissent. WWW, FTP, May 1997.
     [LD97b]
    CoFI Task Group on Language Design. CASL - The CoFI Algebraic Specification Language - Rationale. CoFI Document: CASL/Rationale. WWW, FTP, May 1997.
     [LD97c]
    CoFI Task Group on Language Design. CASL - The CoFI Algebraic Specification Language - Summary. CoFI Document: CASL/Summary. WWW, FTP, May 1997.
     [Sem97]
    CoFI Task Group on Semantics. CASL - The CoFI Algebraic Specification Language (Tentative Design) - Language Summary, with annotations concerning the semantics of constructs. CoFI Note: S-4. WWW, FTP, April 1997.
     [Too97]
    CoFI Task Group on Tools. CASL - The CoFI Algebraic Specification Language - Intended Tools. CoFI Document: CASL/Tools. WWW, FTP, May 1997.
     [VBC97]
    Frédéric Voisin, Michel Bidoit, and Christine Choppy. A concrete syntax for CASL (tentative proposal). Version 2: Postscript, May 1997.

    CoFI Document: CASL/Proposal ---- 14 May (updated 20, 27 May) 1997.
    Comments to cofi-language@brics.dk