Applying VDM to large developments

Abstract

The paper focuses on the use of VDM. Meta-IV, the specification language of VDM, was proved successful to specify large systems. Although many specifications have been written in Meta-IV, only a few complete VDM developments have been achieved. Experiments with VDM and the /b B/ theorem prover have provided some insight on this problem. The author gives an overview of VDM; he points out several weaknesses of the approach in the perspective of large scale developments; and discusses the benefits of the use of the /b B/ tool.