AI-based classification and retrieval of reusable software components

Abstract

The concept of software reusability is examined from the perspective of classifying and accessing reusable software. To improve the practicality of software reuse, one has to have a knowledge of its location, an understanding of the reusable components, and its adaptability to a particular need. The current state-of-the-art methods are assessed, and a new system for performing classification-based reuse is proposed. The concepts of subsumption and closeness introduced previously (R. Prieto-Diaz and P. Freeman, 1987) are used by the proposed reuse system to facilitate searching for reusable components and to provide capabilities for helping programmers to assess the worth of reusing particular packages. A description of the major algorithms required to compute these metrics is given. Also, domain analysis which helps in deciding whether a particular application is oriented towards software reuse is given. >