Work On Formal Methods
Jan Bergstra's research on computation has focussed on fundamental concepts, mathematical theories and practical tools.
His main theoretical research programmes are:
- a systematic study of specification methods for abstract data types (starting in 1979, with John V. Tucker);
- the invention, development and application of process algebras, especially ACP (starting in 1984, with Jan Willem Klop, Jos Baeten and others);
- Module Algebra (starting in 1986, together with Paul Klint and Jan Heering);
- Program Algebra (starting in 1998, with Marijke Loots).
Based in this theoretical research, he has designed various formal methods and tools. In cooperation with Paul Klint and Jan Heering he designed the specification language ASF (in 1984) and the related ToolBus coordination language and system (in 1995). Some of his work has been undertaken in the setting of the ESPRIT programme. For example, the software projects FAST and METEOR funded the beginnings of the development of the process algebra ACP, and the telecommunications project SPECS led to the development of the specification language muCRL. All systems are still in daily use for research purposes, while ASF has been extensively used in the Dutch banking industry.
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