The Abstraction Problem for ReverseEngineering in a System Re - engineeringApproach

It is widely accepted that reverse engineering has three components: restructuring, comprehension and production of formal speciication. In this paper, we advocate that the three components could be achieved in a systematic approach by successfully applying a series of sound rules. The key approach to comprehension and the production of formal speciication is a notion of abstraction. Abstraction is often interpreted as the act of hiding irrelevant details. What constitute as relevant details is often left open to diierent interpretations. A uniied approach for reverse engineering is described within which the notion of abstraction is classiied and precisely deened. Abstraction rules are given and applied to various small examples.