Melding structured abstracts and World Wide Web for retrieval of reusable components

ABSTRACT

Reusable Software Libraries (RSLs) often suffer from poor interfaces, too many formal standards, high levels of training required for their use, and most of all, a high cost to build and maintain. Hence, RSLs have largely failed to return the reuse benefits promised by their developers. This paper first describes an RSL implementation using the World Wide Web (WWW) browser Mosaic and shows how it meets most RSL needs, avoids most RSL pitfalls, and costs only a fraction of the cost for the average commercial RSL. Second, the paper describes a way to quickly assess the important aspects of a piece of software so programmers can decide whether or not to reuse it. Using the observation that when programmers discuss software they tend to convey the same key information in a somewhat predictable order, this paper describes a method to automatically mimic this activity using a Structured Abstract of reusable components. Structured Abstracts provide a natural, easy to use way for developers to (1) search for components, (2) quickly assess the component for use, and (3) submit components to the RSL.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

General Terms:
Theory