A knowledge-based software reuse environment for program development

The knowledge-based software reuse environment (KBSRE) for program development assists the user to familiarize himself with the domain application environment, to locate partially matched components from the reusable component library, to understand the life-cycle knowledge of a component, and to decompose a component when its subcomponents are available. The knowledge base was created by the frame based component representation method and a set of decomposition rules and sibling rules. The components are used to generate the new software system by component composition methods. This KBSRE is an open system which allows the implementor to modify the knowledge base, decomposition rules, and sibling rules with minimum efforts. Development of a virtual reality application is shown as an example