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Formalization in Program Development

1993; Springer Nature (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-94-011-1793-7_9

0924-0780

Peter Naur,

Teaching and Learning Programming

In recent years several authors concerned with the methodology of program development have claimed that the use of formalized modes of expression in certain particular manners offers considerable benefits to the program development activity. The claims are related to a few key notions, most conspicuously formal specifications of programs and abstract data types. The present study is an analysis of some of the arguments given in support of these claims. It will be found that several of these arguments are invalid, and it will be maintained that the emphasis on formalization in program development may in fact have harmful effects on the results of the activity.