gerhart@donner.sw.mcc.com (Susan Gerhart) (02/16/89)
Call for Papers
IEEE Software Special Issue:
Applications of Formal Methods
Summary of the Topic
--------------------
Formal Methods are design and construction methods explicit-
ly based on well-defined mathematical formalisms. Examples
are: VDM, Z, box-structures, traces, predicate transformers,
transition systems, axiomatic data types, and many more.
These methods promise (1) better control over the software
development process through clarity and precision of specif-
ication and then of development steps and (2) reduced error
commission and persistence through rigor, systematic review,
and formal verification. Much progress has been made in us-
ing formal methods, developing support systems for them, and
evaluating their applicability on industrially oriented
problems. Applications to critical systems are appearing
world-wide and there is now some commercial interest based
on advances in verifiable execution environments. Several
standards groups are using formal methods and one - VDM - is
undergoing the international standards process.
Content of the Special Issue
----------------------------
IEEE Software attempts to reach practitioners who can bene-
fit from application studies with methods and tools nearing
maturity. Each article in this special issue will describe
an application of formal methods to a specific industrial-
scale problem. Articles are expected to summarize the method
and concentrate on how it was used on the problem. Excluded
from interest are articles that: introduce a new method or
gratuitous variant; apply to only a toy problem (i.e. no
10-line text formatters, trivial elevators, or GCDs); survey
a single field; cannot reveal sufficient data about the ap-
plication to allow evaluation of effectiveness; or emphasize
language semantics over problems. Hardware or mixed hardware
and software applications are welcome as long as the method
has known software applications. Scaled down versions of
industrial sized problems are expected and acceptable,
although scaling up should be addressed.
Submission Procedures
---------------------
3-5 application articles are expected to be published ac-
cording to the usual underline{IEEE Software criteria (20
pages double spaced). A tutorial article is sought, e.g. il-
lustrating at least one method in depth with a comparison
with others. The editor's introduction will compile a list
of applications and sources of other material, e.g. pedagog-
ical material and videotapes. Reviewers are also sought.
Editor:
Susan Gerhart,
MCC Software Technology,
3500 W. Balcones Dr.,
Austin Tx. 78759, U.S.A.
Phone: 512-338-3492,
Fax: 512-338-3899,
e-mail: gerhart@mcc.com
Publication Schedule:
Sept. 1989 Drafts Due
Dec. 1989 Reviews
Feb. 1990 Revisions
May 1990 Publication