Application name:

BIBDIA - A library organization and lending system

Organisation:

Norsk Data GmbH, Muelheim, Germany

Method:

VDM

Tools:

The VDM Class Library Generator

Domain:

Information systems.

Period:

1985 - 1990

Size:

Teams of 4 to 8 people.

Description:

VDM was used only within small pieces of the project. Examples are:
* development of a database buffering system to speed up database access especially over a slow data connection link;
* development of a catalogue recherche module.
The subsystem's functionality was sketched out using VDM and implemented in Pascal using the VDM Class Library Generator. This process was permanently accompanied by experienced VDM users from another group within the same department.

Conclusions:

One reason for applying VDM only to parts of the system was the fact that the complete team was not familiar with formal methods. Constant support given by experienced members of a related group together with the availability of tool support (VDM Class Library Generator) lead to an increasing acceptance of the method. The application of VDM in this area could be seen as successful, because: arguing within the group finally took place in a more abstract level; productivity was increased by achieving software reuse through the tool; the use of VDM in this project was very pragmatic, i.e. used as some kind of pseudo code to sketch out the ideas.

Publications:

"A Buffering System Implementation using VDM". Debora Weber-Wulff. In: VDM'90; VDM and Z -- Formal Methods in Software Development. D. Bjoerner, H. Langmaack and C.A.R. Hoare (editors). Springer-Verlag, LNCS 428. Pages 135-149. 1990.

"Programming with VDM Domains". Hans-Martin Hoercher and Uwe Schmidt. In: VDM'90; VDM and Z -- Formal Methods in Software Development. D. Bjoerner, H. Langmaack and C.A.R. Hoare (editors). Springer-Verlag, LNCS 428. Pages 122-134. 1990.

Contact:

Name:	Uwe Schmidt
Organisation:	Fachhochschule Wedel
Address:	Feldstrasse 143 D-22880 Wedel
Country:	Germany
Phone number:	+49 (4103) 804845
E-mail:	uwe@fh-wedel.de
Personal website:	-

URL:

-

Remarks:

-

© copyright 2004 | Formal Methods Europe