Z User Group
Encyclopedia
The Z User Group exists to promote use and development of the Z notation
, a formal specification
language for the description of and reasoning about computer-based systems. It was formally constituted on 14 December 1992 during the ZUM'92 Z User Meeting in London
, England
.
, co-organized with APCB
), and from 2008 the ABZ Conference (with Abstract State Machines
as well). In 2010, the ABZ Conference also includes Alloy
, a Z-like specification language with associated tool support.
Successive secretaries have been
Z notation
The Z notation , named after Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, is a formal specification language used for describing and modelling computing systems. It is targeted at the clear specification of computer programs and computer-based systems in general.-History:...
, a formal specification
Formal specification
In computer science, a formal specification is a mathematical description of software or hardware that may be used to develop an implementation. It describes what the system should do, not how the system should do it...
language for the description of and reasoning about computer-based systems. It was formally constituted on 14 December 1992 during the ZUM'92 Z User Meeting in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Meetings and conferences
ZUG has organised a series of Z User Meetings approximately every 18 months. From 2000, these became the ZB Conference (jointly with the B-MethodB-Method
The B method is method of software development based on B, a tool-supported formal method based around an abstract machine notation, used in the development of computer software. It was originally developed by Jean-Raymond Abrial in France and the UK. B is related to the Z notation and supports...
, co-organized with APCB
APCB
The APCB organizes conferences about the B-Method, one of the leading formal methods, used in high-integrity software engineering....
), and from 2008 the ABZ Conference (with Abstract State Machines
Abstract State Machines
In computer science, an abstract state machine is a state machine operating on states which are arbitrary data structures .The ASM Method is a practical and scientifically well-founded systems engineering method which bridges...
as well). In 2010, the ABZ Conference also includes Alloy
Alloy (specification language)
In computer science and software engineering, Alloy is a declarative specification language for expressing complex structural constraints and behavior in a software system. Alloy provides a simple structural modeling tool based on first-order logic...
, a Z-like specification language with associated tool support.
Chair and secretary
Successive chairs have been- John Nicholls (1992 - ?)
- Jonathan BowenJonathan BowenJonathan P. Bowen FBCS FRSA is a British computer scientist. He is Chairman of Museophile Limited, an Emeritus Professor at London South Bank University where he has headed the Centre for Applied Formal Methods, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster...
(?-2011) - Steve ReevesSteve Reeves (computer scientist)Prof. Steve Reeves is a computer scientist based at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. He is the Associate Dean and the Programme Co-ordinator of Software Engineering. He has undertaken research work on the Z notation, formal methods for GUI design and a general theory of refinement.Steve...
(2011- )
Successive secretaries have been
- Mike Hinchey (?-2011)
- Randolph Johnson (2011- )