Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!weyrich!orville
From: orville@weyrich.UUCP (Orville R. Weyrich)
Subject: Re: Specification Languages
Message-ID: <1991Jun15.234704.1417@weyrich.UUCP>
Keywords: Missouri
Reply-To: orville@weyrich.UUCP (Orville R. Weyrich)
Organization: Weyrich Computer Consulting
References: <1991Jun14.171653.26325@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 91 23:47:04 GMT

In article <1991Jun14.171653.26325@agate.berkeley.edu> bks@lima.berkeley.edu (Bradley K. Sherman) writes:
>
>   I've always found the concept of a "specification language" to be
>a bit dubious in the context of the programming projects that I have
>been involved in.   I can remember being told by a superior that I
>should not have used the word "algorithm" during a meeting that
>we had with upper-management types from one of our clients.  What they
>would have made of a document written in a synthetic language is
>amusing to contemplate.
>
>   Could proponents of the use of specification languages (other
>than natural languages) please give doubters like me a little taste
>of the art? 

How about graphical specification languages like data flow diagrams, 
hierarch diagrams, etc.

Non-computer upper management types seem to relate to these fairly well.



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Orville R. Weyrich, Jr., Ph.D.                   Certified Systems Professional
Internet: orville%weyrich@uunet.uu.net             Weyrich Computer Consulting
Voice:    (602) 391-0821                         POB 5782, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
Fax:      (602) 391-0023                              (Yes! I'm available)
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