Program Development by Stepwise Refinement

Program Development by Stepwise Refinement

April 1971 | Niklaus Wirth
The paper "Program Development by Stepwise Refinement" by Niklaus Wirth discusses the creative process of programming, distinguishing it from mere coding. It emphasizes that programming education should focus on design techniques rather than just demonstrating what a computer can do. The author uses a stepwise refinement approach to illustrate the development of a program, specifically for solving the 8-Queens problem. This method involves breaking down tasks into subtasks and refining specifications in parallel with data structures. Key techniques such as preselection, stepwise construction of trial solutions, introduction of auxiliary data, and recursion are demonstrated. The paper also highlights the importance of modular design, efficiency, and clarity in program development. The 8-Queens problem is used to illustrate these concepts, showing how the program can be refined step by step to achieve a solution. The paper concludes with lessons on program construction, modularity, notation, design decisions, and the complexity of programming.The paper "Program Development by Stepwise Refinement" by Niklaus Wirth discusses the creative process of programming, distinguishing it from mere coding. It emphasizes that programming education should focus on design techniques rather than just demonstrating what a computer can do. The author uses a stepwise refinement approach to illustrate the development of a program, specifically for solving the 8-Queens problem. This method involves breaking down tasks into subtasks and refining specifications in parallel with data structures. Key techniques such as preselection, stepwise construction of trial solutions, introduction of auxiliary data, and recursion are demonstrated. The paper also highlights the importance of modular design, efficiency, and clarity in program development. The 8-Queens problem is used to illustrate these concepts, showing how the program can be refined step by step to achieve a solution. The paper concludes with lessons on program construction, modularity, notation, design decisions, and the complexity of programming.
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[slides and audio] Program development by stepwise refinement