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Key research themes
1. How do software libraries support efficient cataloguing and resource sharing in academic and digital library environments?
This research theme investigates how software library systems are designed and deployed to optimize cataloguing, cooperation, and resource sharing among academic and digital libraries. Efficient cataloguing modules and integrated library systems facilitate organizing large information collections, user access, and consortia-based resource sharing. Understanding the software architectural choices and deployment challenges is key to enhancing library automation and digital library management.
Key finding: This study provides an in-depth comparative analysis of cataloguing modules in three prominent library automation packages used in India: Alice for Windows, Libsys, and Virtua. It identifies the functional coverage of... Read more
Key finding: This empirical study reveals significant challenges in library cooperation and resource sharing in South-West Nigerian academic libraries due to heterogeneous, non-internet-compatible software selections and lack of mandated... Read more
Key finding: This survey chapter synthesizes key design principles and implementation considerations for digital libraries that expand beyond mere document repositories to user-centric systems supporting locating, retrieving,... Read more
2. What are the methodological and computational approaches to building extensible and portable software libraries for diverse applications?
This research theme focuses on the design and engineering of software libraries maintaining extensibility and portability across platforms and applications, including model predictive control, computational geometry, and digital library generators. It addresses strategies such as layered modular architectures, use of standard languages and interfaces, and abstraction to support reuse and adaptation in heterogeneous environments. Achieving portability and extensibility is vital to developing robust, reusable software components and libraries that facilitate application development and longevity.
Key finding: This tutorial delineates a conceptual framework for software portability, defining it as the capability to transfer and adapt software across classes of environments at costs lower than redevelopment. It emphasizes practical... Read more
Key finding: The paper presents the architecture and implementation of a Virtual Digital Library (VDL) Generator designed as an extensible software library component that supports characterization, extension, and modification of digital... Read more
Key finding: The work introduces a layered software kernel implemented as a C++ library extending LEDA for higher-dimensional computational geometry, including types like points, hyperplanes, and affine transformations. It emphasizes a... Read more
Key finding: This paper describes CGAL—an extensive C++ software library for computational geometry embodying state-of-the-art object-oriented and generic programming using templates and traits classes for robustness and efficiency. It... Read more
3. How can software component search and reuse be enhanced through specification-based and hybrid retrieval techniques to improve software library utility?
This research theme explores computational techniques to improve searching and reusing software components within software libraries. It examines approaches combining algebraic specifications, semantic and syntactic filtering, term rewriting, and hybrid models incorporating natural language processing to yield ranked, approximate matches to users’ queries. Efficient retrieval systems aim to overcome challenges in locating reusable components in vast repositories, enabling more effective software reuse and reducing redundancy in software development.
Key finding: This foundational paper proposes augmenting software component retrieval via associating algebraic specifications to components, combining syntactic and partial semantic queries, and organizing search as a multi-level ranked... Read more
Key finding: This study introduces a hybrid retrieval method blending formal specifications and natural language processing using K-nearest neighbors (K-nn) techniques to enhance identification of reusable software components. By... Read more