Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology

Book excerpt: The AMAST movement was initiated in 1989 with the First International C- ference on Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology (AMAST), held on May 21{23in Iowa City, Iowa,and aimed at setting the development of software technology on a mathematical basis. The virtue of the software technology en- sioned by AMAST is the capability to produce software that has the following properties: (a) it is correct and its correctness can be proved mathematically, (b) it is safe, such that it can be used in the implementation of critical systems, (c) it is portable, i. e. , it is independent of computing platforms and language generations, and (d) it is evolutionary, i. e. , it is self-adaptable and evolves with the problem domain. Ten years later a myriad of workshops, conferences, and researchprogramsthat sharethe goalsof the AMAST movementhaveoccurred. This can be taken as proof that the AMAST vision is right. However, often the myriad of workshops, conferences, and research programs lack the clear obj- tives and the coordination of their goals towards the software technology en- sioned by AMAST. This can be taken as a proof that AMAST is still necessary.