Mescal Requirements
Abstract:
0 What this document is about Mescal is a (not yet existing) system for mechanical support in constructing and exploring formal theories, with an emphasis to calculational theories for software development. This document is an attempt to capture and clarify the primary and secondary functional requirements for Mescal. To avoid the repetitious use of modalities like "should " or "must", we use the present tense to signify the hopeful future. The envisioned architecture for Mescal (described in a companion paper) is that of a kernel system "empowered " by libraries. We mention this right here, because it bears on the interpretation of questions of the form: Can Mescal do X? There are three possible answers: (1) Yes, that is a native capability of Mescal; (2) Yes, provided appropriate libraries are developed and used; (3) No, unless someone is willing to do some kernel hacking. In this document, the classes (1) and (2) will not be clearly distinguished. Before going into the requirements, we list some non-requirements: ffl The system finds the proofs for you. (Mescal is not a theorem prover. At best it is a proof verifier. There are some very good theorem-proving systems out there, and the intention is not to feebly duplicate that work.)
Citations
| 4 | The ergonomics of computer interfaces --- designing a system for human use – Meertens, Pemberton - 1992 |
