Remember — A Capability of Intelligent Software Tools

Abstract

The remember capability of a software tool is investigated here as an “intelligence” attribute which permits an efficient man-computer communication, an automatic execution control and a substantial decrease in execution costs and time by supporting a re-use of results obtained in other executions.

The software tool STAR (Structure Analyzer), developed and in use [PFL 82] as a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturingl tool for analyizing complex software systems, contains facilities for memorizing execution information! results in relationship to state information and for remembering:

• already performed execution steps in relationship to state information and what is the last consistent state of a incomplete execution (short time remember capability)

• the steps to be executed in order to complete an execution which was earlier started but only partialy performed and

• results of of other executions that ean be re-used in new executions (long time remember eapability).

• This remember eapability permits an effieient user-computer interaction by supporting:

• automatic self-control during the execution,

• automatic restart of interrupted executions from the last consistent state of execution,

• automatic recognition of execution steps that do not need to be re-executed if results of an earlier execution are available,

• automatic decisions about the new work to be performed and

• automatic supervision of the execution progress.

The “short and long-time remember” capability permits a substantial reduction of execution time and costs with a visible improvement in the quality of the man-machine communication .