Standardized Software Classication in the World Wide Web

Robert Haddon Terry

Margaretha Price
Louann Welton
MountainNet Inc.
2816 Cranberry Square, Morgantown, WV 26505
Tel: (304) 594-9075
Fax: (304) 594-9088
Email: frhterry,mprice,lweltong@rbse.mountain.net

Abstract
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? T.S. Eliot
By browsing and searching the World Wide Web (WWW) for reusable software, potential
reusers encounter several dierent levels of cataloging and classication schemes. Some software
repositories use more established methods while others use ad-hoc methods of classication. In
this position paper, we suggest having a standardized cataloging method for WWW software
repositories. Our goal is to provide potential reusers with a readily apparent prole of repository
contents, eliminating user reliance on a full working knowledge of the specic repository classi-
cation type. This is becoming increasingly necessary with the proliferation of WWW software
repositories and their expanding popularity.
Keywords: Reusable software classication, World Wide Web
Workshop Goals: Start promoting a standardized classication scheme; learn other cata-
loging/classication methods; listen to other ideas in promoting the sharing of software through
the WWW.
Working Groups: Reuse terminology standards, cataloging reusable software, reuse in the
WWW, reuse handbook and reuse management, organization and economics.

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1 Background
Our reuse experience is gained through the operation of the NASA sponsored ELSA (formerly
AdaNET) project, a fully functional WWW repository. Of ELSA's current population of 1100
assets, 670 are reusable software. These reusable assets are organized by class or information
type and by content through a collection hierarchy. The collections represent facets of or subjects
relevant to the Information Management, Software Development, Mission Critical Systems and
WWW Information and Utilization domains. As software engineers/librarians in this environment,
we are directly responsible for acquiring, evaluating, cataloging and qualifying software assets. In
support of these tasks and in an eort to support sound reuse concepts and practices, our team
participates in the identication, composition and evaluation of proposed interoperation and reuse
standards through the Reuse Library Interoperability Group (RIG). This involvement impacts and
prefaces our assumed position with respect to reuse classication systems.

2 Position
A standard cataloging structure is necessary to fully explore the potential represented by WWW
software libraries. We are not advocating a single classication scheme but rather, a convention or
structure that provides a descriptive overlay or reference guide to the appropriate interpretation and
utilization of classication schemes. Repositories can use all or part of the classication standard,
and they can also expand to the lower levels of classication.
To our knowledge, groups have developed candidate interoperation standards with respect to cer-
tication frameworks and the basic data models. These eorts do not satisfy or address issues
inherent in cataloging methods.
Below is a sample list of software repositories currently available on WWW. These servers do not
just contain information on their projects, but in fact, make software assets accessible through the
WWW.

 Argonne National Laboratory Mathematics and Computer Science Division

(http://www.mcs.anl.gov/Projects/progtools.html)
 CMU Articial Intelligence Repository (http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/project/ai-
repository/ai/html/air.html)
 Electronic Library Services and Applications (http://rbse.mountain.net/ELSA/elsa lob.html)
 Fortran 90 Software Repository (http://www.nag.co.uk:70/1/nagware/Examples)
 Guide to Available Mathematical Software (http://gams.nist.gov/)
 National HPCC Software Exchange (http://www.netlib.org/nse/home.html)
 Netlib at The Univ. of Tennessee and ORNL (http://www.netlib.org/liblist.html)
 Physics Software Repository (http://icemcfd.com/cfd/CFD codes.html)
 Public Ada Library (http://wuarchive.wustl.edu/languages/ada/pal.html)

Some of the above repositories catalog assets topically, while others arrange holdings alphabeti-
cally. Topical classication systems are typically presented as a hierarchy with variations given to
subjective logic or order purpose. It is further observed that the variations extend to the inclusion
of metadata or brief asset proles. Metadata is often delivered as a prescribed set of attributes

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that brie y describe asset properties, or as separate WWW pages with no set attribute pattern. It
is also noted that several repositories oer direct asset access without metadata. The discussion of
metadata is related to classication schemes but outside the topic of this position paper.
We propose that WWW reusable software providers choose one existing classication scheme most
suitable for cataloging reusable components. There are several existing classication models from
which to choose (i.e. the CR classication System of the ACM). Although no one scheme can suce
in all applications, a basic cataloging structure can be determined and is necessary in today's reuse
WWW environment. A classication scheme that is exible enough which libraries can select only
parts of the classication structure and/or they can also expand the lower levels of the structure
for the more domain specic libraries.

3 Comparison
Software classication can be compared directly to general library classication schemes such as
the Library of Congress (LC) and Dewey Decimal Classication (DDC).
Several participants of the Web4Lib listserv, a mailing list for issues relating to the creation and
management of library-based World-Wide Web servers and clients, have addressed the issues of
standardization of WWW library classication schemes. These discussions are continuing and
working groups are being proposed in their domain. The software reuse community can start the
same discussions, while also collaborating with those decisions made by the librarians.

4 Biography
Robert Haddon Terry is a Sr. Software Engineer/Librarian in MountainNet, Inc., for the
NASA/ELSA software library. He received a B.A. (1984) degree in Secondary Mathematics from
West Liberty State College, West Liberty, WV, and a M.S. (1988) degree in Computer Science,
from West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown, WV. Since 1989, he has also been a Lec-
turer/Researcher at WVU.
Margaretha Price is a Sr. Software Engineer/Librarian in MountainNet, Inc., for the NASA/ELSA
project. She received B.S. (1990) and M.S. (1992) degrees in Computer Science from West Virginia
University, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Louann Welton is a technical writer for MountainNet, Inc and its divisions. She received a B.A.
in English with a specialization in Library Science from Fairmont State College in 1983.

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