Skip Navigation

The Computer Journal 1987 30(6):512-518; doi:10.1093/comjnl/30.6.512
© 1987 by British Computer Society
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dromey, R. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Derivation of Sorting Algorithms from a Specification

R. G. Dromey

Computing and Information Studies, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia

Received 1 April 1986; revised 1 September 1986

It is important to be able to derive different algorithms that meet a particular specification. Transformations on a program specification provide a systematic means for such an endeavour. Different transformations on a specification can yield new and alternative forms of invariants. These invariants, in turn, can provide the framework for the derivation of a variety of algorithms by the use of weakest precondition techniques. To demonstrate these ideas a number of well-known sorting algorithms are shown to be derivable from a single original program specification.

The intelligent use of equivalent forms is the touchstone of logical insight (S. K. Langer).


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.