Ontology-based software analysis and reengineering tool integration: the OASIS service-sharing methodology

A common and difficult maintenance activity is the integration of existing software components or tools into a consistent and interoperable whole. One area in which this has proven particularly difficult is in the domain of software analysis and reengineering tools, which have a very poor record of interoperability. This paper outlines our experience in facilitating tool integration using a service-sharing methodology that employs a domain ontology and specially constructed, external tool adapters. A proof of concept implementation among three tools allowed us to explore service-sharing as a viable means for facilitating interoperability among these tools.