SureObjects proposes specifying and implementing a practical development environment for creating formal algebraic specifications of the semantics of potentially distributed objects and functions and subsequently automatically generating the source code corresponding to those specifications. Such specifications typically specify, but are not necessarily restricted to, object class definitions. Unique features incorporated include: (1) the first use of the formal semantics of partitioned algebras as the basis for generating code, (2) the use of graphics to specify the algebraic semantics instead of the usual textual equations (i.e., provides a more applicable and intuitive means of specifying imperative semantics), and (3) automatically generating code directly from formal specifications including the capability of supporting distributed objects transparently. Furthermore, the proposal directly addresses several of the suggestions for reliable software development including: automated support of analysis and design, automatic program generators, and particularly the interest in environments for developing distributed applications. Anticipated results of the project include the ability to create, modify, store, retrieve formal graphic specifications of object classes and functions, and also completely generate application source code from them. NASA should benefit by increasing the quality of the application code and decreasing the effort to create that code.Both public and private sectors need reliable software and increased programming productivity both in support of research and development of products, and for financial transactions. By eliminating the manual coding of the specifications, there is a substantive decrease in the amount of programming, thereby increasing programming productivity.specifications, object-oriented, distributed, generators, graphic programming
