Knowledge-based support for the development of database-centered applications

Using the Application Development Toolkit (ADT) as an example, it is shown that by borrowing some techniques from the artificial-intelligence field, database-centered application-development productivity tools can be made more acceptable to end users and more useful to expert developers. Experience with ADT has indicated that a more end-user-oriented approach, and, in particular, more accommodating and application-oriented interface, is needed. A characteristic set of problems that are found in the class of productivity tools similar to ADT is presented. A series of possible improvements that shed some light on deficiencies in current state-of-the-art application-generation systems and productivity tools is suggested.<>