Skip to main content

Aspects of system description

  • Chapter
Programming Methodology

Part of the book series: Monographs in Computer Science ((MCS))

  • 248 Accesses

Abstract

This paper discusses some aspects of system description that are important for software development. Because software development aims to solve problems in the world, rather than merely in the computer, these aspects include: the distinction between the hardware/software machine and the world in which the problem is located; the relationship between phenomena in the world and formal terms used in descriptions; the idea of a software model of a problem world domain; and an approach to the decomposition of problems and its consequences for the larger structure of software development descriptions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R L Ackoff. Scientific Method: Optimizing Applied Research Decisions; Wiley, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barry W Boehm. Unifying Software Engineering and Systems Engineering; IEEE Computer Volume 33 Number 3, pages 114–116, March 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Edsger W Dijkstra. On the Cruelty of Really Teaching Computer Science; Communications of the ACM Volume 32 Number 12, page 1414, December 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Carl A Gunter, Elsa L Gunter, Michael Jackson, and Pamela Zave. A Reference Model for Requirements and Specifications; Proceedings of ICRE 2000, Chicago Ill, USA; reprinted in IEEE Software Volume 17 Number 3, pages 37–43, May/June 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  5. David Harel. Statecharts: A visual formalism for complex systems; Science of Computer Programming 8, pages 231–274, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Michael Jackson. Problem Frames: Analysing and Structuring Software Development Problems; Addison-Wesley, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Peter G Neumann. Computer-Related Risks; Addison-Wesley, 1995, pages 44–45.

    Google Scholar 

  8. W L Scherlis. responding to E W Dijkstra “On the Cruelty of Really Teaching Computing Science”; Communications of the ACM Volume 32 Number 12, page 1407, December 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  9. W P Stevens, G J Myers, and L L Constantine; Structured Design. IBM Systems Journal Volume 13 Number 2, pages 115–139, 1974. Reprinted in Tutorial on Sofware Design Techniques; Peter Freeman and Anthony I Wasserman eds, pages 328–352, IEEE Computer Society Press, 4th edition 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  10. James Rumbaugh, Ivar Jacobson and Grady Booch. The Unified Modeling Language Reference Manual; Addison-Wesley Longman 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hermann Weyl. The Mathematical Way of Thinking; address given at the Bicentennial Conference at the University of Pennsylvania, 1940.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jackson, M. (2003). Aspects of system description. In: McIver, A., Morgan, C. (eds) Programming Methodology. Monographs in Computer Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21798-7_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21798-7_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-2964-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21798-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics