An outline of the SMoLCS approach

An outline is presented of the SMoLCS methodology for the specification of concurrent systems and languages. Its main novelties lie in a high level of modularity and parameterization and in the fact that, within the same homogeneous framework, functions, data types and concurrency can be handled together. Indeed a concurrent system is algebraically specified as an abstract data type obtained by instantiating a parameterized schema (a parameterized abstract data type) for defining and composing process specifications. The semantics of a language is given by a two-steps approach, which keeps an overall denotational flavour, but can be seen just as another algebraic specification. A metalanguage schema is naturally associated with the methodology, consisting of an algebraic and of an applicative kernel. Relying on the overall algebraic structure, tools have been developed for rapid prototyping of specifications of concurrent systems and languages.