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Formal Methods, Informally How to Write Programs That Work

Coming soon in January 2026

Authors

Carroll Morgan
, University of New South Wales, Sydney

Description

Learn to program more effectively, faster, with better results… and enjoy both the learning experience and the benefits it ultimately brings. This undergraduate-level textbook is motivated by Formal Methods, encouraging habits that lead to correct and concise computer programs; but its informal approach sidesteps reliance on Formal Logic that programmers are sometimes led to believe is required. Instead, a straightforward and intuitive use of simple 'What's true here' comments encourages precision of thought without prescription of notation. Drawing on decades…

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Key features

  • Teaches the principles and practice of Formal Methods - but without requiring Formal Logic or Discrete Mathematics as a prerequisite
  • Introduces the conceptual tools step-by-step, as they are needed
  • Presents numerous examples in Python, including many extremely simple ones, so that principles of the systematic approach are not obscured by the complexity of the programs themselves
  • Develops example programs both in the 'conventional' style and in the style of the book, allowing students to see the advantages of a more systematic –but still informal– approach
  • Online extras include mini-projects and automated quizzes

About the book

  • Subjects Computer Science,Programming Language Theory and Implementation, and Applied Logic,Software Engineering and Development
  • Format: Hardback
    • Expected publication date: 31 January 2026
    • ISBN: 9781009420990
    • Dimensions (mm): 244 x 170 mm
    • Weight: 0.5kg
    • Page extent: 382 pages
    • Availability: Not yet published - available from
  • Format: Paperback
    • Expected publication date: 31 January 2026
    • ISBN: 9781009421027
    • Dimensions (mm): 244 x 170 mm
    • Weight: 0.25kg
    • Page extent: 382 pages
    • Availability: Not yet published - available from
  • Format: Digital
    • Expected publication date: 08 January 2026
    • ISBN: 9781009421003