New book on specification

[Jacques Loeckx <loeckx@cs.uni-sb.de>]

This is to announce that the book

      Jacques Loeckx, Hans-Dieter Ehrich, Markus Wolf,
        "Specification of abstract data types", 
        Wiley-Teubner (J. Wiley & Sons and B.G.Teubner Publishers),
        1996

has appeared. The book is essentially a textbook. It presents in par-
ticular the loose and initial specification methods. It moreover
proposes a simple specification language including modularization 
and parameterization.

[Jacques intends to compare this language with the tentative design of
CASL at a later date. --PDM] 

 From the back cover blurb:
     
     "SPECIFICATION OF ABSTRACT DATA TYPES provides an authoritative 
     introduction to the mathematical foundations of algebraic program 
     specification.

     Unlike most other publications on the subject, this book does not 
     draw on category theory, but instead tries to demystify the topic 
     and promote its use in practical applications. It clearly 
     distinguishes between the study of algebras, logic, specification
     methods and specification languages and its avoids focusing on a 
     particular logic or a particular specification method.

     After an informal discussion on the design of reliable software,
     the book presents the main notions and properties of algebras.
     Next it investigates logic, introducing a general notion of logic,
     encompassing those commonly used. On the basis of these fundamentals
     it describes in some detail three specification methods and the 
     principles of specification languages. It concludes with a case
     study illustrating the use of abstract data type specification 
     in software design.

     While treating the subject with mathematical precision, the book 
     contains numerous examples, exercises and comments to provide a
     deeper understanding of concepts discussed. It was conceived as 
     a student textbook but will also be a useful source of reference
     for researchers and developers using formal specification methods
     for software design."