A Specification Language for Interoperable GIS

Specifications of software interfaces are essential for interoperability. If an interface is not clearly specified, software that exposes or uses the interface necessarily contains assumptions that can make it non-interoperable with other software based on different assumptions. Eliminating, or at least coordinating such assumptions requires a precise and complete specification language. If such a language also allows for prototyping of the specified components, it is a much more powerful tool in the specification process and can even support conformance testing. This chapter describes why and how functional languages serve all these purposes.

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