Algebraic specification grammars: A junction between module specifications and graph grammars

Abstract

Algebraic specification grammars have recently been introduced implicitly by the second author as a new kind of graph grammars in order to generate algebraic specifications using productions and derivations. In fact, in the well-known algebraic approach to graph grammars, also known as "Berlin-approach", we mainly have to replace the category of graphs by the category of algebraic specifications to obtain the basic definitions, constructions and results for this new kind of grammars. Since a production in an algebraic specification grammars corresponds exactly to an interface of an algebraic module specification for modular software systems this new kind of grammars can be used for modular system design. For this purpose we give an overview how notions in the theory of grammars and that of module specifications correspond to each other and discuss how both theories can benefit from each other. Concerning full technical detail and proofs we refer to other published or forthcoming papers.