Automata-based programming (Shalyto's approach)

Automata-based programming is a programming technology. Its defining characteristic is the use of finite state machines to describe program behavior. The transition graphs of state machines are used in all stages of software development (specification, implementation, debugging and documentation). Automata-based programming technology was introduced by Anatoly Shalyto in 1991. Switch-technology was developed to support automata-based programming. Automata-based programming is considered to be rather general purpose program development methodology than just another one finite state machine implementation.