A Language for Describing the Functions of Synchronous Systems* Before the design of a system is started, the exact function desired of it should be specified. It is suggested that a computer-oriented language be used for this purpose. The inadequacies of the standard programming languages for the description of systems are discussed, and a dialect of ALGOL which is suitable for describing synchronous systems is introduced. These descriptions can be used for simulation and automatic design of the system described, in addition to communicating system specifications. CACM February, 1966 Parnas, D. L. CA660203 JB March 3, 1978 3:23 PM 1086 4 1484 1132 4 1484 1234 4 1484 1263 4 1484 1265 4 1484 1270 4 1484 1323 4 1484 1358 4 1484 1379 4 1484 1380 4 1484 1453 4 1484 1464 4 1484 1484 4 1484 1491 4 1484 1498 4 1484 1613 4 1484 1614 4 1484 1781 4 1484 1825 4 1484 1860 4 1484 2083 4 1484 2178 4 1484 2179 4 1484 2252 4 1484 2325 4 1484 2341 4 1484 2546 4 1484 2645 4 1484 2652 4 1484 2684 4 1484 2842 4 1484 2929 4 1484 2934 4 1484 3069 4 1484 669 4 1484 679 4 1484 691 4 1484 761 4 1484 949 4 1484 989 4 1484 1484 5 1484 1484 5 1484 1484 5 1484 1846 5 1484 3184 5 1484 1380 6 1484 1424 6 1484 1484 6 1484 1572 6 1484 576 6 1484