Knowledge-based transformational programming

Transformations are functions over programs that adhere to some program refinement relation. The power of transformations stems, in the first instance, from the flexibility available within the transformation system for representing design decisions, which requires that transformations be parameterized with the knowledge of problem domain; and second, on the ability to reuse developments in an effective manner, after some modifications have been made to the problem definition. In this paper, knowledge-based transformational programming in the PROSPECTRA system is presented. The strength of this approach arises from the smooth combination of knowledge bases and transformations in the development and re-development of programs. In particular, emphasis is placed on the separation of concerns achieved by the effective partitioning of problem domain knowledge and problem specification