Programs, Recursion and Unbounded Choice (Electronic book text)

This book is a complete account of the predicate transformation calculus semantics of sequential programs, including repetitions, recursive procedures, computational induction and unbounded nondeterminacy. Predicate transformation semantics are the best specification method for the development of correct and well-structured computer programs. The author develops this theory to a greater depth than has been achieved before, and describes it in a way that makes it readily compatible with programming rules for partial and total correctness of repetitions and recursive procedures, supplies new rules for proving incorrectness, and a stronger rule for proving that two programs satisfy the same specifications. Finally, the semantics are extended so that non-terminating programs can be specified as well. This will be essential reading for all computer scientists working in specification and verification of programs.