An Automatic Class Generation Mechanism by Using Method Integration

The paper presents a mechanism for automatically generating new classes from classes existing in a library by using their modification histories. To generate classes that are likely to meet a programmer's requirements and that are consistent with the existing classes, we propose three actors: a Specifier, a Finder, and an integrator. The Specifier records the history of modifications between methods with the same interface of a parent class and its heir. If the required method is not defined in the existing class which a programmer is referring to, the Finder retrieves classes similar to the referenced class and the Integrator applies the past modifications of similar classes to the referenced class. Classes are determined to be similar, based on their positions in a class hierarchy tree. Both the Specifier and Integrator are achieved by using a method integration algorithm based on object oriented bounded program slicing and class dependence graph matching. This mechanism enables programmers to reuse classes with little or no modification, and thus, easily create object oriented programs.