An Incremental Semi-Automatic Method for Component Recovery

Atomic components are sets of related variables, types, and subprograms, e.g., abstract data types and objects. Many techniques exist to detect them automatically. However, as an evaluation has shown, none of them has the precision needed [9]. One approach to achieve a higher precision is to integrate the user into the detection cycle. This paper describes a method in which computer and human work together to find atomic components. Furthermore, it discusses how the techniques can be enhanced to work incrementally, which is needed if they are to be integrated with this method. Moreover, it proposes ways of combining the techniques within this interactive method.