Charles Rattray

Identification and Recognition through Shape in Complex Systems

Categorical modelling is a useful tool in the study of systems. The basic idea of categorical shape theory is that, in any approximating situation, the approximations are what encode the only information that the system can analyse. Such approximations are very important in using time-varying complex systems to model system developments. Within this context, basic properties of categorical shape theory are introduced in order to better understand system approximation and construction.

The Shape of Complex Systems

Categorical modelling is a useful tool in the study of systems. To motivate this, interpretation of elementary category theory ideas are illustrated in terms of time-varying complex systems. A brief introduction to the notion of categorical shape theory to model approximating situations is given.

Object Identification and Retrieval in a CAST Library

The classification and recognition problems are fundamental to an understanding of object identification and retrieval in a CAST library or repository.

Sketching an Evolutionary Hierarchical Framework for Knowledge-Based Systems Design

This paper describes a model of the software development process and indicates briefly how the model may be use to study re-usability of software processes. A possible architecture for a systems development environment is suggested.

A view of formal semantics

Abstract When writing a programming lagnuage standard, one must achieve comprehensibility and correctness in the face of complexity. Achieving both with informal methods requires an almost nonexistent combination of technical and literary skills. Because informal methods are inadequate, resort is often made to formal ones. This report outlines the major styles of formal semantic definitions, describes several specific definition methods, and enumerates various attempts to produce formal semantic definitions of real standardised languages. Until definition techniques improve, we recommend that standards contain both complete formal and complete informal language definitions, whenever feasible.

Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology

ion for Safety, Induction for Liveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Muffy Calder Counting Votes with Formal Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Bart Jacobs Agent-Oriented Programming: Where Do We Stand? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 John-Jules Charles Meyer

IEEE/IFIP Joint Workshop on Formal Specifications of Computer-Based Systems

The IFIP TC10 Working Group 10.1 “Computer Aided Systems Theory” Committee Meeting at the Vienna University of Technology on the 30 th September, 1999, resulted in expressing the interest to support a joint workshop with the IEEE Computer Society TC-ECBS focused on Formal Specifications of Computer-Based Systems (FS CBS) owing to a substantial overlap in this research domain. Franz Pichler, the founder of the IFIP WG10.1, and Charles Rattray, the IFIP WG10.1 chair, delegated Miroslav Sveda, a member of both WG10.1 and TC-ECBS, to act as a contact person in this activity. The ECBS Executive Committee has welcome and greatly supported origination of the IEEE/IFIP Joint Workshop on FS CBS following the ECBS’2000 Conference.

A sketch-based technique for the derivation of self-interpreters

We investigate a view of compiler generation which does not involve the direct specification of the source->target relationship. Here, the concentration is on the role of self-interpreters in this context, and their derivation. The method is based on a category theoretic model of language using finite limit sketches and requires the automatic derivation of a target partial evaluator and a source interpreter, expressed as a target program. We describe a technique to derive a self-interpreter as this represents a significant step towards the derivation of both partial evaluators and interpreters.

Using a Prolog Engine to Integrate Multiple Knowledge Sources: The KCM/Help-Desk Project

The Stirling KCM (Knowledge Crunching Machine) project is building an intelligent help-desk to aid advisors in Computer Centres when they are helping their clients with computing problems. The system consists of a number of distributed components. The current version interacts with advisory logs held on a remote ORACLE database. We are currently adding an interface to allow the system to use the BRS free-text retrieval package. This will handle retrieval of manuals and documentation.

Sketching a Constructive Definition of 'mix'

Since the early seventies partial evaluation has been recognised as a powerful tool for constructing compilers. The ability to produce a partial evaluator for language L in language L is the ability to generate compilers and compiler generators. This paper uses the theory of sketches to produce a formal framework to describe the function specialisation phase of a partial evaluator for L in terms of the specification of L.