CASL: the common algebraic specification language

  • Authors:

  • Egidio Astesiano;Michel Bidoit;Hélène Kirchner;Bernd Krieg-Brückner;Peter D. Mosses;Donald Sannella;Andrzej Tarlecki

  • Affiliations:

  • Dipartimento di Informatica e Scienze dell'Informazione, Universitá di Genova, Italy;LSV, CNRS, École Normale Supérieure de Cachan, France;LORIA-CNRS, Nancy, France;Department of Computer Science, Bremen Institute of Safe Systems, Universität Bremen, Germany and FB3 Mathematik und Informatik, Bremer Inst. für Sichere Systeme, Universität Bremen ...;BRICS, Department of Computer Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark;Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, UK;Institute of Informatics, Warsaw University, Poland and Institute of Computer Science, PAS, Warsaw, Poland

  • Venue:
  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

The Common Algebraic Specification Language (CASL) is an expressive language for the formal specification of functional requirements and modular design of software. It has been designed by CoFI, the international Common Framework Initiative for algebraic specification and development. It is based on a critical selection of features that have already been explored in various contexts, including subsorts, partial functions, first-order logic, and structured and architectural specifications. CASL should facilitate interoperability of many existing algebraic prototyping and verification tools.This paper gives an overview of the CASL design. The major issues that had to be resolved in the design process are indicated, and all the main concepts and constructs of CASL are briefly explained and illustrated -- the reader is referred to the CASL Language Summary for further details. Some familiarity with the fundamental concepts of algebraic specification would be advantageous.