The algebraic specification formalism ASF
Jan Aldert Bergstra, Jan Heering, Paul Klint · Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) · 1989
The Algebraic Specification Formalism ASF supports modularized (first-order) equational specifications.Among its features are (a) import and parameterization of modules; (b) hidden (auxiliary) sorts and functions; (c) positive conditional equations; (d) overloaded functions; (e) infix operators.Most of the context-dependent errors in ASF specifications are violations of the so-called origin rule.Besides catching errors, this rule enforces a certain modularization of ASF specifications.The meaning of the modularization constructs of ASF is defined by means of a syntactic normalization procedure.Numerous examples of both correct and incorrect ASF specifications are given. Informal definition of ASF