A two-stage framework for UML specification matching

Context: Specification matching techniques are crucial for effective retrieval processes. Despite the prevalence for object-oriented methodologies, little attention has been given to Unified Modeling Language (UML) for matching. Objective: This paper presents a two-stage framework for matching two UML specifications and quantifying the results based on the systematic integration of their structural and behavioral similarities in order to identify the candidate component set for reuse. Method: The first stage in the framework is an evaluation of the similarities between UML class diagrams using the Structure-Mapping Engine (SME), a simulation of the analogical reasoning approach known as the structure-mapping theory. The second stage, performed on the components identified in the first stage, is based on a graph-similarity scoring algorithm in which UML class diagrams and sequence diagrams are transformed into an SME representation and a Message-Object-Order Graph (MOOG). The effectiveness of the proposed framework was evaluated using a case study. Results: The experimental results showed a reduction in potential mismatches and an overall high precision and recall. Conclusion: It is concluded that the two-stage framework is capable of performing more precise matching compared to those of other single-stage matching frameworks. Moreover, the two-stage framework could be utilized within a reuse process, bypassing the need for extra information for retrieval of the components described by UML.