Computing Formal Methods Z notation

Book Information

Formal Specification and Documentation using Z: A Case Study Approach

By Prof. Jonathan Bowen
Centre for Applied Formal Methods, London South Bank University

International Thomson Computer Press (ITCP)
Thomson Publishing

ISBN 1-85032-230-9. Paperbound. Originally published 1996. xvii+302 pages.

• Table of contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Ordering information
• Review extract
• PDF version of the book (838Kbytes, revised 2003)
• Supplementary files (slides and exercises)

Note: This book and the associated material may be used freely for educational not-for-profit purposes.

Ordering information
( now out of print, but available online)

Related information

• Short biography of the author.
• Publications by the same author.
• Z notation.
• Formal methods.
• A list of Z books is available in the Z FAQ.

• On-line material for a Z course based on the book by the author. This includes slides for some chapters and the exercises used for the course in PostScript format. Updated in July 1998 with minor corrections and improved formatting.

See also entry under FreeTechBooks.com.

Selected related publications

• Applications of Formal Methods, Mike Hinchey (University of Cambridge) and Jonathan Bowen (eds.). Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science, series editor Prof. C.A.R. Hoare, 1995.

• Seven More Myths of Formal Methods, Jonathan Bowen and Mike Hinchey. IEEE Software, 12(4):34-41, July 1995. Previous versions available as University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory Technical Report 357, 12pp, December 1994, and Oxford University Computing Laboratory Technical Report PRG-TR-7-94, 19pp, June 1994.

• Ten Commandments of Formal Methods, Jonathan Bowen and Mike Hinchey. IEEE Computer, 28(4):56-63, April 1995. Previous version available as Technical Report No. 350, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, 18pp, September 1994. See also a summary.

Review extract

Finally, we have a textbook that presents the application of formal methods through a series of non-trival case studies. In this volume, Bowen presents applications that range from network services to a text editor to rasterop functions and the X window system. These studies are used to illustrate Bowen's key argument that formal methods provide powerful tools for documenting the design of complex systems.

Chris Johnson
University of Glasgow

Jonathan Bowen
Last updated 2 August 2005