An information retrieval system for software components

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 keywork descriptions, the authors have made use of developments in natural language research to represent component information in a form which encodes semantics as well as syntax, the component descriptor frame. The paper describes the basic ideas which underlie the system and describes how they can be used for component information retrieval. An example of the system in use is presented. The version of the system described has been fully implemented using Prolog and is now being developed as part of a more general re-use support system