This article surveys techniques used in structured andobject-oriented software specification methods. The techniques areclassified as techniques for the specification of external interactionand internal decomposition. The external interaction specificationtechniques are further subdivided into techniques for the specificationof functions, behavior, and communication. After surveying thetechniques, we summarize the way they are used in structured andobject-oriented methods and indicate ways in which they can becombined.…The appendices show how the reviewed techniques areused in 6 structured and 19 object-oriented specification methods. (Fromthe abstract.)

The author says the focus is restricted to“semiformal techniques, by which we mean diagram techniques andtechniques that use some form of structured naturallanguage.”

The paper presents a framework for comparing the different methods,then presents and analyzes the main features of each. Six structured and19 object-oriented methods are discussed. One point of interest is theinclusion of structured techniques, which are omitted by most papersdealing with object-oriented techniques. Another virtue of the paper isthe use of the same example application for all techniques, in order toprovide a common reference point for comparing them.

This well-written survey provides useful critiques and a goodcomparison of the methods it examines. The material is augmented byreadable figures and an extensive list of references.