A tool for developing correct programs by refinement

The refinement calculus for the development of programs from specifications is well suited to mechanised support. We review the requirements for tool support of refinement as gleaned from our experience with a number of existing refinement tools, and report on the design and implementation of a new tool to support refinement based on these requirements. The main features of the new tool are close integration of refinement and proof in a single tool (the same mechanism is used for both), good management of the refinement context, an extensible theory base that allows the tool to be adapted to new application domains, and a flexible user interface.

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