A Weakest Precondition Semantics for Z

Abstract

The lack of a method for developing programs from Z specifications is a widely recognized difficulty. In response to this problem, different approaches to the integration of Z with a refinement calculus have been proposed. These programming techniques are promising, but as far as we know, have not been formalized. Since they are based on refinement calculi formalized in terms of weakest preconditions, the definition of a weakest precondition semantics for Z is a significant contribution to the solution of this problem. In this paper, we actually construct a weakest precondition semantics from a relational semantics proposed by the Z standards panel. The construction provides reassurance as to the adequacy of the resulting semantics definition and additionally establishes an isomorphism between weakest preconditions and relations. Compositional formulations for the weakest precondition of some schema calculus expressions are provided.