Retrieval of reusable components in a development information system

A query facility for accomplishing reusable class retrieval from a software information base based on similarity queries is described. Classes are described by the operators and similarity relationships that the query facility uses in its search. In the software information base, both reusable components and their associated development information are described in a knowledge-based formalism. The prototype query system implemented on the software base is described. It uses dynamic relationships about the conceptual closeness of available components to retrieve components that best match the requirements of the application under development