Derivation of UML class diagrams as static views of formal B developments

Although formal methods provide excellent techniques for the precise description of systems, understanding these descriptions is often restricted to experts. This paper investigates a practical solution to assist the understanding of a formal specification, written in B, by providing a complementary view of the specification as UML class diagram. Our technique improves the state of the art by taking into account operations in the construction of the diagram, through the use of concept formation techniques. A documentation tool automates the approach. It has been applied to several specifications built independently of the tool.