The SEAR tool suite: CASE for expert system development in OPS5

Abstract

It is generally agreed upon in the expert system development community that the maintenance problems associated with rule-based programming are in many respects different from those in traditional programming. Lacking a methodology and automated tools, maintenance of complex rule-based systems becomes very difficult without thorough knowledge of the design and structure of the entire system. SEAR is an advanced development project focused on exploring CASE technology to address these problems. This paper describes the SEAR tool suite. These tools support various stages of development including design through rapid prototyping, transition from prototype to production system, and ongoing enhancements and maintenance.<>