FORMAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICATION - THE FOREST PROJECT.

The authors argue that the use of formal specification technique is the most promising and cost-effective way of overcoming many of the difficulties encountered in the construction of large-scale computer systems. They point out the perils, problems and pitfalls of introducing formal specification techniques into industry. Some early progress has been made in the method of obtaining formal specifications, of the formal system itself and the environment that will support it. They describe FOREST, a major UK initiative in this field. They briefly introduce and review progress of the FOREST project and its approach to alleviating these dangers.