SReYantra: Automated Software Requirement Inter-Dependencies Elicitation, Analysis and Learning

Abstract

Requirements elicitation is a cognitively difficult task. Rich semantics in natural language based requirements impose challenges in elicitation, analysis and maintenance of requirement inter-dependencies. The challenges intensify further when dependency types and strengths are considered. Ignoring inter-dependencies can adversely impact the design, development and testing of software products. This PhD research proposal addresses three main challenges. First, Natural Language Processing (NLP) is studied to automatically extract dependencies from textual documents. Further verb classifiers are utilized to automate elicitation and analysis of different types of dependencies (e.g: requires, coupling etc). Second, representation and maintenance of changing requirement dependencies from designing graph theoretic algorithms will be explored. Third, the process of providing recommendations of dependencies will be studied. The results are aimed at assisting project managers to evaluate the impact of inter-dependencies and make effective decisions in software development life cycle.