Programming Research Group
Encyclopedia
The Programming Research Group (PRG) is part of the Oxford University Computing Laboratory
(OUCL). It was founded by Christopher Strachey
in 1965 and after his death, C.A.R. Hoare, FRS took over the leadership in 1977. The PRG ethos is summed up by the following quotation from Strachey, found and promulgated by Tony Hoare after he arrived at the PRG:
The PRG has traditionally been a centre of excellence in the field of formal methods
, playing a leading role in the development of the Z notation
(initiated by a visit of Jean-Raymond Abrial
) and CSP
(together with the associated Occam programming language). It has won Queen's Award
s with IBM
and Inmos
for work in this area.
Oxford University Computing Laboratory
The Department of Computer Science, until 2011 named the Computing Laboratory , is a department of Oxford University in England...
(OUCL). It was founded by Christopher Strachey
Christopher Strachey
Christopher Strachey was a British computer scientist. He was one of the founders of denotational semantics, and a pioneer in programming language design...
in 1965 and after his death, C.A.R. Hoare, FRS took over the leadership in 1977. The PRG ethos is summed up by the following quotation from Strachey, found and promulgated by Tony Hoare after he arrived at the PRG:
It has long been my personal view that the separation of practical and theoretical work is artificial and injurious. Much of the practical work done in computingComputingComputing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, both in software and in hardwareHardwareHardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
design, is unsound and clumsy because the people who do it have not any clear understanding of the fundamental design principles of their work. Most of the abstract mathematical and theoretical work is sterile because it has no point of contact with real computing. One of the central aims of the Programming Research Group as a teaching and research group has been to set up an atmosphere in which this separation cannot happen.
The PRG has traditionally been a centre of excellence in the field of formal methods
Formal methods
In computer science and software engineering, formal methods are a particular kind of mathematically-based techniques for the specification, development and verification of software and hardware systems...
, playing a leading role in the development of the Z notation
Z notation
The Z notation , named after Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, is a formal specification language used for describing and modelling computing systems. It is targeted at the clear specification of computer programs and computer-based systems in general.-History:...
(initiated by a visit of Jean-Raymond Abrial
Jean-Raymond Abrial
Jean-Raymond Abrial is a French computer scientist and inventor of the Z and B formal methods.J.-R. Abrial is the father of the Z notation , during his time at the Programming Research Group within the Oxford University Computing Laboratory, and later the B-Method , two leading...
) and CSP
Communicating sequential processes
In computer science, Communicating Sequential Processes is a formal language for describing patterns of interaction in concurrent systems. It is a member of the family of mathematical theories of concurrency known as process algebras, or process calculi...
(together with the associated Occam programming language). It has won Queen's Award
Queen's Award
Queen's Award can refer to:* The Queen's Awards for Enterprise, formerly The Queens Awards to Industry.* The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service* The Queen's Award for Forestry* The Queen's Award for Services in the Community...
s with IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Inmos
INMOS
Inmos Limited was a British semiconductor company, founded by Iann Barron, with both the head office and the design office at Aztec West in Bristol, it was incorporated in November 1978.- Products :...
for work in this area.