Software Construction - Foundation and Application

Summary

This seminar in Dagstuhl was the continuation of a series which the organizers have held biannually for a number of years under the title Mathematical Tools for the Construction of Software at the Mathematical Research Institute Oberwolfach. One essential intention therewith was, among others, to provide a forum for scientists interested and active in the areas covered by IFIP / TC 2 in order to allow interaction with the Working Groups of that International Technical Committee. A reason for this intention was that by IFIP rules the direct co-operation with its Working Groups is restricted to their members whereas the seminars in Oberwolfach just as now in Dagstuhl are certainly not.

The seminar was the first of the series mentioned above held in Dagstuhl. Its title Software Construction - Foundation and Application is a modification of the former intended to emphasize that applications and foundations of programming should receive equal attention in this seminar. It had 35 participants all involving themselves very actively. 32 presentations were given leading to lively and fruitful discussions. The presentations can roughly be categorized along the following streams:

• Proving and verifying programs
• Semantics of programming concepts
• Concurrent programs and non-deterministic constructs
• Compiling and developing software
• Logic for programming
• Interactive programming

The discussions both during the sessions and in the evenings have shown that the talks given were well received and have met great interest. One focus of broader interest was for instance the specification of programs and, speaking more generally, of systems. In this context the refinement of interactive systems and type theory played a particular role. Other topics which have triggered engaged discussions were the handling of nondeterminism and concurrency in connection with particular language concepts including but not restricted to CSP and OCCAM. Moreover the transformation and the compilation of programs through interpreters and other means like e.g. data flow analysis have led to activities among the participants. Last not least some well known specialists in the field of the logical foundations of computing have given very stimulating talks on specific topics.

In summary the participants agreed to have visited a seminar which was worth attending with respect to both scientific communications and personal contacts, the latter having been supported not the least by the traditional hike on one beautiful afternoon and evening.

The organizers wish to thank all who have helped to make the seminar a success. First we are grateful to the participants and speakers for their presentations and contributions during the discussions. Thanks go also to the people of the International Meeting and Research Center Dagstuhl and, particularly, to its secretaries who have been a big help not only in the preparatory phase but also on every day during the whole week of the seminar. Further thanks go to the director and to the council of the research center. The participants were all very impressed about what had been accomplished already during the relatively short period since the center has begun its activities. We only mention here the computing and communication facilities, and the collection of scientific books and journals which forms a good basis for a computing science library to be built upon. Finally, we are very grateful to Jens Knoop for editing this report so professionally.