III: Small: Collaborative Research: Creating and Evolving Software via Searching, Selecting and Synthesizing Relevant Source Code

软件开发人员依赖于重用现有库或应用程序中的源代码片段，以按时并在预算内开发软件功能。现实情况是，大多数以前实现的功能都嵌入在数十亿行分散的源代码中。最先进的代码搜索引擎不能保证检索到的代码片段实现这些功能。即使找到了相关的代码片段，开发人员也面临着相当复杂的任务，即选择这些片段并将其移动到他们的应用程序中。最后，通过组合选定的代码片段来合成新功能需要对这些片段和后续代码的行为进行复杂的推理。这一过程的结果是巨大的复杂性、陡峭的学习曲线和构建定制软件的巨大成本。该研究计划提出了一个集成模型来解决搜索、选择和综合(S3)源代码的基本问题。S3模型依赖于集成程序分析和信息检索来生成变革性模型，以自动搜索、选择和合成相关的源代码片段。S3模型将直接支持软件变更的新方法和帮助程序员进行各种开发、重用和维护活动的自动化工具。在更广泛的影响中，该项目包括与行业合作转让技术。

Software developers rely on reusing source code snippets from existing libraries or applications to develop software features on time and within budget. The reality is such that most previously implemented features are embedded in billions of lines of scattered source code. State-of-the-art code search engines provide no guarantee that retrieved code snippets implement these features. Even if relevant code fragments are located, developers face rather complex task of selecting and moving these fragments into their applications. Finally, synthesizing new functionality by composing selected code fragments requires sophisticated reasoning about the behavior of these fragments and the consequent code. The result of this process is an overwhelming complexity, a steep learning curve, and a significant cost of building customized software.This research program proposes an integrated model for addressing fundamental problems of searching, selecting, and synthesizing (S3) source code. The S3 model relies on integrating program analysis and information retrieval to produce transformative models to automatically search, select, and synthesize relevant source code fragments. The S3 model will directly support new methodologies for software change and automated tools that assist programmers with various development, reuse and maintenance activities. Among the broader impacts the project includes collaboration with industry to transfer technology.