A new multi-level information retrieval technique for reuse software components

In the automatic programming area, users still fail to find available software components that match their needs faster than developing them again. In this paper, a new information retrieval technique to help in retrieving the software components from repositories based on different levels of accuracy (i.e., exact match, match, and similar) is presented. The software components had been classified into classes according to their functionality, and then they had been stored with what we call a 'data dictionary' in a repository. The exact match is not required to retrieve a required software component from this repository using our retrieving technique. An example of how to apply this technique in the automatic programming area to produce a program code list automatically is given. The feature of learning the structure of the new software component exists.