A semantically oriented program synthesis system

An overview is given of SEED, an automatic program development system that transforms specifications into code using program development methodologies. It is shown that top-down, stepwise program development techniques, originally intended for use by humans, are amenable to automation. When using the Dijkstra/Gries methodology, users refine the predicate logic-based specification of a problem, according to set of heuristics, into code. A major portion of the SEED project involved clarifying their heuristics, intended for human application, to facilitate the development of an executable rule based system. N. Dershowitz´s fact introduction scheme (Artif. Intell., vol.25, 323-73, 1985) was used to allow the user to tailor SEED to a particular problem domain by adding to a fact base that is consulted during the rule application process. SEED accepts a specification as input and returns either a program or an error message if a program cannot be developed