USING FORMAL METHODS IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Abstract

Formal methods have wide usage in software engineering. One especially important category of software engineering where formal methods are irreplaceable is software engineering for critical systems. Critical systems represent software products that require high level of correctness in requirements specification, software design and the final product. Using different formal methods we can help in development of safer and more reliable critical systems. In this paper we give an overview of the formal methods and tool used in Software Engineering. We also present our experience in lecturing a course in SE for CS at a post graduate level, the methodology used in to connect the theory with practice by presenting several formal methods. Out final goal was the use of temporal logic in SE. We also describe the tools used and show several case studies presented to the students and the lessons learned during the course.