Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Pandgt;In andlt;Iandgt;Software Abstractionsandlt;/Iandgt; Daniel Jackson introduces an approach to software design that draws on traditional formal methods but exploits automated tools to find flaws as early as possible. This approach--which Jackson calls andquot;lightweight formal methodsandquot; or andquot;agile modelingandquot;--takes from formal specification the idea of a precise and expressive notation based on a tiny core of simple and robust concepts but replaces conventional analysis based on theorem proving with a fully automated analysis that gives designers immediate feedback. Jackson has developed Alloy, a language that captures the essence of software abstractions simply and succinctly, using a minimal toolkit of mathematical notions. This revised edition updates the text, examples, and appendixes to be fully compatible with the latest version of Alloy (Alloy 4). andlt;/Pandgt;andlt;Pandgt;The designer can use automated analysis not only to correct errors but also to make models that are more precise and elegant. This approach, Jackson says, can rescue designers from andquot;the tarpit of implementation technologiesandquot; and return them to thinking deeply about underlying concepts. andlt;Iandgt;Software Abstractionsandlt;/Iandgt; introduces the key elements: a logic, which provides the building blocks of the language; a language, which adds a small amount of syntax to the logic for structuring descriptions; and an analysis, a form of constraint solving that offers both simulation (generating sample states and executions) and checking (finding counterexamples to claimed properties). andlt;/Pandgt;
Review
Those who have to learn and use the modern generation of formal methods -- streamlined, lightweight, and highly automated -- will welcome the appearance of the second edition of Daniel Jackson's book on the Alloy language and its analysor. Jackson's writing, like his language design, is full of good taste, and he makes an intelligent and compelling argument for the construction of automated software abstractions as the central activity in software development. Every serious software engineer should read this book. The MIT Press
Review
In an area plagued by unnecessary complexity, Alloy shows there is still room for economy and elegance in software design. Readers of this book will enjoy a rare opportunity to learn how to write less in order to say more, without ambiguity. In short, to learn how to be productive. < b=""> Jim Woodcock <> , University of York, UK
Review
Relational modeling is a powerful but subtle craft. This book applies the Alloy tool suite to pithy examples to educate everyone from working practitioners to researchers. Its joyful and informal tone mask the depth of accumulated wisdom in these pages. < b=""> José N. Oliveira <> , University of Minho
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Those who have to learn and use the modern generation of formal methods -- streamlined, lightweight, and highly automated -- will welcome the appearance of the second edition of Daniel Jackson's book on the Alloy language and its analysor. Jackson's writing, like his language design, is full of good taste, and he makes an intelligent and compelling argument for the construction of automated software abstractions as the central activity in software development. Every serious software engineer should read this book." -- andlt;Bandgt;Jim Woodcockandlt;/Bandgt;, University of York, UKandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"In an area plagued by unnecessary complexity, Alloy shows there is still room for economy and elegance in software design. Readers of this book will enjoy a rare opportunity to learn how to write less in order to say more, without ambiguity. In short, to learn how to be productive." -- andlt;Bandgt;José N. Oliveiraandlt;/Bandgt;, University of Minho andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Relational modeling is a powerful but subtle craft. This book applies the Alloy tool suite to pithy examples to educate everyone from working practitioners to researchers. Its joyful and informal tone mask the depth of accumulated wisdom in these pages." -- andlt;Bandgt;Shriram Krishnamurthiandlt;/Bandgt;, Brown Universityandlt;/Pandgt;
Synopsis
An approach to software design that introduces a fully automated analysis giving designers immediate feedback, now featuring the latest version of the Alloy language.
In Software Abstractions Daniel Jackson introduces an approach to software design that draws on traditional formal methods but exploits automated tools to find flaws as early as possible. This approach -- which Jackson calls "lightweight formal methods" or "agile modeling" -- takes from formal specification the idea of a precise and expressive notation based on a tiny core of simple and robust concepts but replaces conventional analysis based on theorem proving with a fully automated analysis that gives designers immediate feedback. Jackson has developed Alloy, a language that captures the essence of software abstractions simply and succinctly, using a minimal toolkit of mathematical notions. This revised edition updates the text, examples, and appendixes to be fully compatible with Alloy 4.
Synopsis
In
Software Abstractions Daniel Jackson introduces an approach to software design that draws on traditional formal methods but exploits automated tools to find flaws as early as possible. This approach -- which Jackson calls "lightweight formal methods" or "agile modeling" -- takes from formal specification the idea of a precise and expressive notation based on a tiny core of simple and robust concepts but replaces conventional analysis based on theorem proving with a fully automated analysis that gives designers immediate feedback. Jackson has developed Alloy, a language that captures the essence of software abstractions simply and succinctly, using a minimal toolkit of mathematical notions. This revised edition updates the text, examples, and appendixes to be fully compatible with the latest version of Alloy (Alloy 4).
The designer can use automated analysis not only to correct errors but also to make models that are more precise and elegant. This approach, Jackson says, can rescue designers from "the tarpit of implementation technologies" and return them to thinking deeply about underlying concepts. Software Abstractions introduces the key elements: a logic, which provides the building blocks of the language; a language, which adds a small amount of syntax to the logic for structuring descriptions; and an analysis, a form of constraint solving that offers both simulation (generating sample states and executions) and checking (finding counterexamples to claimed properties).
About the Author
Daniel Jackson is Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and leads the Software Design Group at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab at MIT.