Abstraction, model checking and software correctness

ABSTRACT

I hope you were able to read the contribution from Maria and Gary Litvin, Pre-college Math Concepts vs Skills - Preparation for Computing Studies, in my last column. This article addressed one of the most important issues our discipline faces, the preparation and motivation of young people to pursue a career in computing. To repeat, here is a quote from the back cover of their book for high school students Mathematics for the Digital Age and Programming in Python: "The vision behind this book is that math and computer science should help each other. A programmer needs to be comfortable with abstractions, and that is precisely what math teaches. Computer science reciprocates by providing models and hands-on exercises that help clarify and illustrate more abstract math." This columns contribution "Reflections on Teaching Abstraction and Other Soft Ideas" by Orit Hazzan, which can be found on page?? of this issue of Inroads, further reinforces the relevance of abstraction for software developers.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Reliability