A CASE tool for demonstrating Z specifications

The CASE tool described, is designed to enable software engineers to produce a faithful animation of specifications written in Z. Desirable properties which animations of this kind should possess, and which have guided the authors in developing the tool, are the following: the executable code (i.e., the animation) must be easy to produce; the structure of the code should not be too far removed from the Z; and the animation should be sufficiently user friendly to enable a client to understand and interact with it. The CASE tool is based around the program development tool known as CRYSTAL. CRYSTAL is sold as an expert system shell by Intelligent Environments Ltd. It is essentially a rule-based programming language offering excellent input, output, and menu facilities, as well as all the standard features expected of any expert system shell.