Abstract.
This paper introduces an iterative model for the software development process of distributed systems. It is based on dealing with the system evolution and maintenance activities as similar stages of the system development. In order to formalise this model, a multi-valued causal temporal logic, referred to as Simple Causal Temporal Logic (SCTL), is defined for the acquisition and specification of the functional requirements. A Model of Unspecified States (MUS) is also defined with a double goal: firstly, to show the fundamental aspects of system behaviour, which has been specified through a set of SCTL requirements; and, secondly, to verify the consistency and completeness of the specified requirements.
The combination of SCTL and MUS allows obtaining the specification of the initial architecture of the system formally. Besides, the design decisions are stored with the goal of making the evolution and maintenance tasks easier. The translation between MUS and a constructive formal description technique (LOTOS) is automatic from the definition of architectural operators.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received October 1999 / Accepted in revised form May 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pazos Arias, J., Duque, J. SCTL-MUS: A Formal Methodology for Software Development of Distributed Systems. A Case Study. Form Aspects Comput 13, 50–91 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00003939
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00003939