Gilb Planguage Concept Glossary

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From Tom Gilb: COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING A Handbook for Systems Engineering Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage

Purpose of the Concept Glossary

This glossary contains the master definitions of the fundamental Planguage concepts. Its central purpose is to define ‘concepts’ – not words. I view this concept glossary as a central contribution of this book, standing in its own right.

‘‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.’’ Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 2

‘‘Every word or concept, clear as it may seem to be, has only a limited range of applicability.’’ Werner Heisenberg[1]

With the Heisenberg quotation in mind, this glossary will try to give the interpretation Planguage intends, when the glossary terms are used in this book. (If the text and the glossary do not seem to agree, I suggest you trust the glossary primarily as a correct interpretation.2)

Further explanation of the glossary-defined concepts is found in the main text (via the index). An updated and extended Planguage Glossary is also to be found on the website www.Gilb.com and at www.books.elsevier.com. Space limitations within the book meant that not all the glossary could be included.

Development of this Glossary

I have not tried to define all possible concepts for a systems engineering discipline. I have merely concentrated on defining those that I have found useful in my work. Some other concepts have been included because the glossary has been developed in connection with drafting future books in this Planguage.

[1] Heisenberg, Werner, 1958, Physics and Philosophy, London: Penguin Books (2000), ISBN 0-141-18215-6, 176 pages.

[2] I believe Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) said that if the experts disagree, you cannot be sure that either one of them is right. So, my advice to trust the glossary must be taken with caution!