Our systems are now restored following recent technical disruption, and we’re working hard to catch up on publishing. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Find out more

Recommended product

Popular links

Popular links


The B-Book

The B-Book

The B-Book

Assigning Programs to Meanings
J. R. Abrial
A. Hoare
Pierre Chapron
November 2005
Paperback
9780521021753
£93.99
GBP
Paperback
USD
eBook

    The B Method is a means for specifying, designing and coding software systems. The long-awaited B-Book is the standard reference for everything concerning this method. It contains the mathematical basis on which it is founded, the precise definitions of the notations used, and a large number of examples illustrating its use in practice. J.-R. Abrial, the inventor of B, has written the book in such a way that it can be used for self-study or for reference. It is in four parts, the first dealing with the mathematical foundations and the definition of the various mathematical structures that are needed to formalise software systems; special emphasis is placed on the notion of proof. The second part contains a presentation of the Generalised Substitution Language and of the Abstract Machine Notation; examples are given to show how large specifications can be constructed systematically. The next part introduces the two basic programming features of sequencing and loop. The last part covers the very important notion of refinement. It shows how to construct large software systems by means of layered architectures of modules. With the appearance of The B-Book, formal methods practitioners, computer scientists, and systems developers at last will have access to the definitive account of what will become one of the standard approaches to the construction of software systems.

    • First book on B-Method, a successor to Z language
    • Author is inventor of the method, already used in practice
    • Practical applications include ultra-reliable software for running the Paris Metro system
    • Complete reference with lots of examples

    Reviews & endorsements

    'With the appearance of The B-Book … computer scientists, and system developers at last will have access to the definitive account of what will become one of the standard approaches to the construction of software systems.' Zentralblatt MATH

    'It will act as the reference book for many involved in the application of the B-Method … The B-Book provides a comprehensive reference for the B approach to specifying, designing and coding software systems.' Jonathan Bowen, The Times Higher Education Supplement

    See more reviews

    Product details

    November 2005
    Paperback
    9780521021753
    816 pages
    246 × 172 × 46 mm
    1.274kg
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • Tribute
    • Foreword
    • Introduction
    • Part I. Mathematics:
    • 1. Mathematical reasoning
    • 2. Set notation
    • 3. Mathematical objects
    • Part II. Abstract Machines:
    • 4. Introduction to abstract machines
    • 5. Formal definition of abstract machines
    • 6. Theory of abstract machines
    • 7. Constructing large abstract machines
    • 8. Examples of abstract machines
    • Part III. Programming:
    • 9. Sequencing and loop
    • 10. Programming examples
    • Part IV. Refinement:
    • 11. Refinement
    • 12. Constructing large software systems
    • 13. Examples of refinement
    • Appendixes
    • Index.