An information retrieval system for software components

Abstract

This paper describes an information retrieval system which is specifically designed to be used for storing and retrieving information about software components. Rather than use a retrieval mechanism which is simply based on keyword descriptions, we have made use of developments in natural language research to represent component information in a form which encodes semantics as well as syntax. We call this the component descriptor frame. The paper describes the basic ideas which underlie our system and describes how it can be used for component information retrieval. An example of the system in use is presented. The version of the system described here has been fully implemented and is now being developed as part of a more general reuse support system.