Understanding concurrent systems (Q2269718)

The work of \textit{C. A. R. Hoare} on communicating sequential processes (CSP) [Commun. ACM 21, 666--667 (1978; Zbl 0383.68028); Communicating sequential processes. Prentice-Hall International Series in Computer Science. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey etc.: Prentice-Hall International (1985; Zbl 0637.68007)] is seen as the kernel of concurrency theory. The aim of the book under review is to be a comprehensive introduction and a reference volume for CSP. It should also be the first point of reference for anyone wanting to use CSP or find something about its theory. It introduces also other views on concurrency, using CSP to model and explain them. The book is integrated with, and uses, CSP-based tools, especially FDR, to a very great extent. FDR is the most important and useful tool for the automatic analysis of systems described in CSP. This book is divided into four parts: An introduction to CSP -- Theory -- Using CSP -- Exploring concurrency. Part I is designed for an audience of both undergraduate and graduate computer science students. At Oxford, it is used for a second-year undergraduate course, and for both full-time and part-time M.Sc. students. Part II is designed for people who are familiar with Part I and have fairly theoretical interests. These could be students taking an advanced course based on this material, or researchers interested in the state of the art. Part III is intended for people who already have some experience in using CSP and FDR in practice, and want to be able to use them in a better way, or who are specifically interested in timed systems. Part IV is designed for people who already understand CSP. They might want to understand other models of concurrent systems in terms of CSP. Most of the present book relies on no theoretical background other than basic knowledge of sets and sequences. Further information on this book is available via the web-site \url{http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/ucs}.