Rapid Prototyping and Animation of Z Specifications Using {log}

Prolog has been proposed as the programming language on which animation and prototyping of Z specifications should be based. However, we believe there is still room for improvements. In this paper, we want to revisit this issue in the light of a powerful, set-oriented constraint programming language like{log} (pronounced ’setlog’). In particular, we pay attention to three points that we think are crucial: finding solutions to complex state predicates; defining formal criteria for guiding an evaluation process based on prototypes; and automatically adding graphical user interfaces to prototypes generated from Z specifications. Three examples of information systems prototypes are available online.