Symbolic analysis
Symbolic analysis is a method for making [1]s based on symbols. .
In figure there is an ["http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_%28philosophy%29"|object] to be monitored using a traffic light. That symbol is a signal to our eyes to activate an interpretation: to wait (red light), to be alert(yellow), or to go (green) ahead. In our brains there is a formal logic to handle interpretations from traffic lights. We suggest that our brains work like an automaton in traffic lights. Sometimes, when we are in a hurry, we ask questiong from ourselves: can we now go, can we now go... A detection from a traffic light causes a condition to be checked in the logic. It gives us the answer: You should wait, you should wait... Now you can go. That kind of symbol (traffic light) gives us pragmatic value, because it makes our travel safe, but still we can flexibly go further to home, work, trip etc - even when the traffic is very heavy.
That was the main principle of symbolic analysis in a nutshell.
Possible Uses for Symbolic Analysis
Symbolic Analysis written in Visual Prolog can be used in modeling typical formal systems, which meet requirements for atomisticity: formal languages, theorem provers, many mathematical packages, as well as simulation and optimization packages, where the type system has been written using Vip domains.
Obs. In PDC Prolog there are numerous examples of Prolog domains written for
Implementing a Symbol and Interpretation
Symbol is a reserved word in Visual Prolog, therefore we use the object SymbolicElement to model any Symbol.
interface symbolicElement supports symbolic, drawableElement, etc.
predicates run: () -> clause*
end interface symbolicElement
class symbolicElement : symbolicElement
constructors newModel: (string ModelName). new: (string ClassName). new: (string Name, symbolicElement ParentElement).
end class symbolicElement
implement symbolicElement
supports symbolic inherits drawableElement, etc.
end implement symbolicElement
The Symbolic Language
Clause is the base for the Symbolic Language.
interface symbolic
open core
domains program = clause*.
clause = def(defClause); %1 creator(createClause); %2 ref(refClause); %3 get(getClause); %4 etc.
end interface symbolic
The architecture
There is a PCMEF-implementation for the symbolic analysis architecture: 1. F means Foundation: The clause defintion is the carrier for all information in symbolic analysis. 2. E means Entity: SymbolicElement is the base class for all specific entities in the model. 3. M means Mediator: The static part of SymbolicElement contains the transformations and handles for Mediator. 4. C means Controller: Controller is a set of utilities to change status of the elements. 5. P means Presentation: Presentation is a graph created from model elements.