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A modula based language supporting hierarchical development and verification
Author(s) -
Bernstein A. J.,
Ensor J. R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380110304
Subject(s) - computer science , variety (cybernetics) , programming language , synchronization (alternating current) , overhead (engineering) , control flow , set (abstract data type) , information flow , distributed computing , software engineering , artificial intelligence , computer network , channel (broadcasting) , linguistics , philosophy
This paper describes a proposal for a modification to the language Modula. The modification was motivated by a desire to bring to the language the ability to build hierarchical systems and to support program verification efforts. In the modified language, called SB‐Mod, modules are grouped into levels and calls are permitted from the modules of one level to those of a higher level. Verification is supported through a set of clearly described synchronization constructs and by restricting the flow of information between levels. A result of this is that levels do not interfere with each other and can be treated separately for purposes of verification. In considering modifications, an attempt was made to provide the user with a variety of control mechanisms, while at the same time avoiding situations in which excessive run‐time overhead would be incurred.