Rule-driven component composition for embedded systems

We present in this paper an approach to c rrect-byconstruction software composition based on the use of nonfunctional properties of the involved components and a set of constraints and design rules using those properties. We focus on the domain of software for embedded devices although most of the concepts presented can also be extended to component-based software development in general. We believe that software development for embedded devices would benefit a lot from the component-based approach. However, software for embedded devices usually has to fulfill much stronger reliability and correctness requirements than conventional software. This calls for appropriate techniques and approaches to ensure the correctness of the software being built. We propose using first order predicate logic to check statically verifiable properties design rules. Furthermore, support is provided for the specification of contracts which will be dynamically checked.