Using formal specifications for component retrieval and reuse

Component reuse depends on the ability to retrieve and adapt potential solutions with respect to a particular problem description. To achieve these ends, users and tools must extract and compare requirements information during reuse and implementation specifics during adaptation. Although traditional component representation languages provide excellent implementation descriptions, their requirements description capabilities are limited. Thus, automated retrieval is traditionally performed in an ad hoc fashion or not at all. Such approaches are not appropriate for developing safety critical systems where precise requirements must be met. Formal interface specifications provide a solution for the requirements representation problem. Formal specifications provide precise descriptions of: problem requirements; component function; and component structure. Formal inference defines a mechanism for reliably and formally comparing problem requirements and component specifications.