Cleland, George

MacKenzie, Donald

2026-05-05T07:35:05Z

1994

Despite significant and impressive technical progress with formal methods in computer software, development and hardware design, our research shows that there are major structural issues to be addressed if formal methods are to be exploited in a broad industry base in the near future. As well as a variety of particular inhibiting factors, there are deep structural problems with the formal methods market place. It is typically technology-led rather than application-led, and restricted by the organisational requirements of successful formal methods use. The broad recommendations, and the specific activities we propose for a UK strategic programme will, we contend, contribute to the identification and development of a market structure which would help create a "virtuous circle" of interacting. This will naturally stimulate activities which will overcome many of the shortcomings and inhibiting factors currently observed.

Research Centre for Social Science / University of Edinburgh

1-872287-65-4

https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/44663

https://doi.org/10.7488/era/7178

en

57

formal methods

computer software

development

hardware design

Inhibiting Factors, Market Structure and the Industrial Uptake of Formal Methods

Working Paper