Another formal specification language
Erik Saaman · 2000
There are a number of reasons why software construction is an inherently hard process to master. Specification plays a central role here; therefore, better means of specification improve productivity. One way of achieving this may be the use of formal specification languages, which have the advantage of being unambiguous. This thesis proposes and motivates a new formal specification language called AFSL (Almost Formal Specification Language or Another Formal Specification Language). AFSL is not a full-grown tool that can be used productively in the software industry right away. Rather, its development has been a quest for creative ideas that may enhance the applicability of formal specification in the future. This introduction explains what formal specification is and argues why it is useful, discusses the historical background of AFSL, and gives an overview of the rest of the thesis.