# A Weakest Precondition Semantics for Z

Cavalcanti, Ana L. C., Woodcock, Jim (1998) A Weakest Precondition Semantics for Z. Computer Journal, 41 (1). pp. 1-15. ISSN 0010-4620. (doi:10.1093/comjnl/41.1.1) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:21561)

 The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication) Official URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1093/comjnl/41.1.1

## Abstract

The lack of a method for developing programs from Z specifications is a widely recognized difficulty. In response to this problem, different approaches to the integration of Z with a refinement calculus have been proposed. These programming techniques are promising, but as far as we know, have not been formalized. Since they are based on refinement calculi formalized in terms of weakest preconditions, the definition of a weakest precondition semantics for Z is a significant contribution to the solution of this problem. In this paper, we actually construct a weakest precondition semantics from a relational semantics proposed by the Z standards panel. The construction provides reassurance as to the adequacy of the resulting semantics definition and additionally establishes an isomorphism between weakest preconditions and relations. Compositional formulations for the weakest precondition of some schema calculus expressions are provided.

Item Type: Article 10.1093/comjnl/41.1.1 Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming, Faculties > Sciences > School of Computing > Theoretical Computing GroupFaculties > Sciences > School of Computing > Systems Architecture Group Mark Wheadon 25 Aug 2009 17:35 UTC 28 May 2019 14:01 UTC https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21561 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)