The logic of software design

In recent years much progress has been made towards the development of mathematical methods (“formal methods”) through which it is possible, in principal, to specify and design software to conform to specifications. Although formal methods have the potential to offer a basis for software engineering akin to the calculational methods and tools of other engineering disciplines, these methods have had only a limited effect on industrial practice. One reason (amongst many) for this state of affairs is that the software engineering curriculum needs to incorporate these methods and tools if the next generation of programming professionals are to use them. In this paper, we provide an overview of how formal methods can be used throughout the software development cycle, and what methods and tools can be introduced in the computer science curriculum to support software development.