The Use Of Z To Formally Specify ACommercial Data Processing System

Abstract

Although the number of organisations using formal specification techniques is expanding, its use tends to be focused upon safety critical systems, systems software and research. It is a common belief that formal specification techniques are not suitable, or too time consuming to use when developing commercial data processing systems. Through the use of an actual case study this paper aims to demonstrate that the use of formal specification techniques to develop a specification for a typical commercial data processing system is both practical and beneficial.