Program Developments: Formal Explanations of Implementations.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Program Developments: Formal Explanations of Implementations.
Authors:	Wile, David S.¹, Horowitz, Ellis
Source:	Communications of the ACM. Nov83, Vol. 26 Issue 11, p902-911. 10p.
Subjects:	Computer programming, Algorithms, Electronic data processing, Mathematical analysis, Mathematical transformations, Differential invariants
Abstract:	Automated program transformation systems are emerging as the basis fur a new programming methodology in which high-level, understandable specifications we transformed into efficient programs. Subsequent modification of the original specification will be dealt with by reimplementation of the specification. For such a system to be practical these reintplementations must occur relatively quickly and reliably in comparison with the original implementation. We believe that reimplementation requires that a formal document-the program development-be constructs during the development process explaining the resulting implementation to future maintainers of the specification. The overall goal of our work is to develop a language for capturing and explaining these developments and the resulting implementations. This language must be capable of expressing:1) the implementor's goal structure; 2) all program manipulations necessary for implementation; and 3) optimization and plans of such optimizations. We discuss the documentation requirements of the development process and then describe a prototype system jot constructing and maintaining this documentation information. Finally we indicate many remaining, open issues and the directions to be taken in the pursuit of adequate solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	Automated program transformation systems are emerging as the basis fur a new programming methodology in which high-level, understandable specifications we transformed into efficient programs. Subsequent modification of the original specification will be dealt with by reimplementation of the specification. For such a system to be practical these reintplementations must occur relatively quickly and reliably in comparison with the original implementation. We believe that reimplementation requires that a formal document-the program development-be constructs during the development process explaining the resulting implementation to future maintainers of the specification. The overall goal of our work is to develop a language for capturing and explaining these developments and the resulting implementations. This language must be capable of expressing:1) the implementor's goal structure; 2) all program manipulations necessary for implementation; and 3) optimization and plans of such optimizations. We discuss the documentation requirements of the development process and then describe a prototype system jot constructing and maintaining this documentation information. Finally we indicate many remaining, open issues and the directions to be taken in the pursuit of adequate solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00010782
DOI:	10.1145/182.358443