The refinement calculus is a well-established theory for formal development of imperative program code and is supported by a number of automated tools. Via a detailed case study, this article shows how refinement theory and tool support can be extended for a program with real-time constraints. The approach adapts a timed variant of the refinement calculus and makes corresponding enhancements to a theorem-prover based refinement tool.

This paper presents work on technology for transformational proof and program development, as used by window inference calculi and transformation systems. The calculi are characterised by a certain class of theorems in the underlying logic. Our transformation system TAS compiles these rules to concrete deduction support, complete with a graphical user interface with command-language-free user interaction by gestures like drag&drop and proof-by-pointing, and a development management for transformational proofs. It is generic in the sense that it is completely independent of the particular window inference or transformational calculus, and can be instantiated to many different ones; three such instantiations are presented in the paper.

Software is growing ever-more complex and new software processes, methods and products put greater demands on software engineers than ever before. The support of appropriate software tools is essential for developers to maximise their ability to effectively and efficiently deliver quality software products. This article surveys current practice in the software tools area, along with recent and expected near-future trends in software tools development. We provide a summary of tool applications during the software lifecycle, but focus on particular aspects of software tools that have changed in recent years and are likely to change in the near future as tools continue to evolve. These include the internal structure of tools, provision of multiple view interfaces, tool integration techniques, collaborative work support and the increasing use of automated assistance within tools. We hope this article will both inform software engineering practitioners of current research trends, and tool researchers of the relevant state-of-the-art in commercial tools and various likely future research trends in tools development.