Combining Graphical and Formal Development of Open Distributed Systems

Abstract

A specification of a software system involves several aspects. Two essential aspects are convenience in specification and possibility for formal analysis. These aspects are, to some extent, exclusive. This paper describes an approach to the specification of systems that emphasizes both aspects, by combining UML with a language for description of the observable behavior of object viewpoints, OUN. Whereas both languages are centered around object-oriented concepts, they are complementary in the sense that one is graphical and semi-formal while the other is textual and formal. The approach is demonstrated by a case study focusing on the specification of an open communication infrastructure.

Object-Oriented Specification and Open Distributed Systems

“…(This is a stripped version of an actual system used for monitoring nuclear power plants, more details on the software bus and its specification can be found in [31].) We consider a distributed architecture for the software bus, with a portmapper and a collection of data servers.…”