A Formal Semantics of Data Flow Diagrams
- 1 December 1994
- journal article
- Published by Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in Formal Aspects of Computing
- Vol. 6 (6) , 586-606
- https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03259387
Abstract
This paper presents a formal semantics of data flow diagrams as used in Structured Analysis, based on an abstract model for data flow transformations. The semantics consists of a collection of VDM functions, transforming an abstract syntax representation of a data flow diagram into an abstract syntax representation of a VDM specification. Since this transformation is executable, it becomes possible to provide a software analyst/designer with two ‘views’ of the system being modelled: a graphical view in terms of a data flow diagram, and a textual view in terms of a VDM specification. In this paper emphasis is on the motivation for the choices made in the transformation. The main aspects of the transformation itself are described using annotated VDM functions with some examples.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- The IFAD VDM-SL toolboxACM SIGPLAN Notices, 1994
- Giving semantics to SA/RT by means of high-level timed Petri netsReal-Time Systems, 1993
- Integrated Structured Analysis and Formal Specification TechniquesThe Computer Journal, 1992
- Semantically extended dataflow diagrams: a formal specification toolIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 1992
- Formalization of techniques: chopping down the methodology jungleInformation and Software Technology, 1992
- Integrating formal notations and systems analysis: using entity relationship diagramsSoftware Engineering Journal, 1992
- Informal and formal requirements specification languages: bridging the gapIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 1991
- Towards a Formal Foundation for DeMarco Data Flow DiagramsThe Computer Journal, 1989
- An algebra for data flow diagram process decompositionIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 1988
- Petri NetsACM Computing Surveys, 1977