Published
Sep 24, 2024
Updated
Sep 24, 2024

Building a Better Software Taxonomy: How AI Can Help

Automatic Bottom-Up Taxonomy Construction: A Software Application Domain Study
By
Cezar Sas|Andrea Capiluppi

Summary

Imagine a vast library of software, each project meticulously categorized and easily discoverable. That's the dream of every developer, researcher, and software enthusiast. But building such a comprehensive, interconnected taxonomy of software application domains is no easy task. Traditional methods, relying on manual curation or rigid structures, often fall short, failing to capture the dynamic, evolving nature of the software world. In this post, we explore how a novel approach, combining the strengths of multiple data sources and AI, can revolutionize software taxonomy construction. Previous attempts at classifying software applications have encountered significant roadblocks due to inconsistencies in existing classifications, including mixing categories, overlapping topics, and outdated labeling practices. This research tackles these challenges head-on by integrating diverse data sources: a specialized Computer Science Ontology (CSO), the collaborative knowledge base Wikidata, and the generative power of Large Language Models (LLMs). Each source brings unique advantages and limitations to the table. The CSO offers structured knowledge but lacks coverage of newer technical terms. Wikidata, while comprehensive, introduces noise from abstract or irrelevant concepts. LLMs excel at linking terms but struggle to create a cohesive hierarchical structure. By strategically combining these sources in an ensemble approach, researchers were able to construct a more robust and complete taxonomy. This approach not only reduces inconsistencies but also creates a more interconnected and navigable structure, making it easier to classify and retrieve software projects. The results are promising. Human evaluations confirmed the accuracy of the majority of term relationships within the taxonomy, highlighting the effectiveness of this ensemble method. Furthermore, the research explores the use of LLMs as automated evaluators, offering a scalable and cost-effective way to assess taxonomy quality. While not yet as precise as human judgment, LLMs provide valuable insights and complement human evaluation. This work represents a significant leap toward a more organized and accessible software landscape. Future applications of this research could transform code search and recommendation systems, enabling developers to discover and reuse relevant software components more efficiently. By automating the taxonomy construction process, and leveraging the strengths of AI, we move closer to a future where navigating the vast software universe is not a chore but a seamless, enlightening experience.
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Question & Answers

How does the ensemble approach combine different data sources to create a better software taxonomy?
The ensemble approach integrates three key data sources: the Computer Science Ontology (CSO), Wikidata, and Large Language Models (LLMs). The CSO provides structured knowledge and established relationships between computer science concepts. Wikidata contributes comprehensive coverage of software-related terms and relationships, while LLMs help identify semantic connections between terms. The system compensates for each source's limitations: CSO's outdated terms are supplemented by Wikidata's current information, while LLMs help validate and connect terms across sources. This creates a more complete and accurate taxonomy structure, particularly useful in scenarios like organizing open-source repositories or categorizing new software projects.
What are the benefits of using AI-powered software classification for developers?
AI-powered software classification makes it easier for developers to find and organize code resources. It automatically categorizes software projects into relevant domains, saving time that would otherwise be spent manually searching through repositories. The main benefits include faster project discovery, better code reusability, and more accurate software recommendations. For example, a developer looking for machine learning libraries would quickly find relevant projects categorized by specific applications like image recognition or natural language processing, rather than searching through general categories. This improved organization leads to more efficient development workflows and better collaboration opportunities.
How can automated software taxonomy help businesses improve their development processes?
Automated software taxonomy helps businesses streamline their development processes by creating better organization and accessibility of software resources. It reduces the time teams spend searching for relevant code components and improves project management efficiency. Companies can better manage their software assets, identify redundancies, and make informed decisions about technology adoption. For instance, a company developing multiple products can easily identify reusable components across projects, reduce duplicate development efforts, and maintain consistent technology standards. This leads to cost savings, faster development cycles, and better resource utilization.

PromptLayer Features

  1. Testing & Evaluation
  2. The paper uses LLMs as automated evaluators for taxonomy quality assessment, similar to how PromptLayer enables automated testing of prompt effectiveness
Implementation Details
Set up batch testing pipelines to evaluate taxonomy classification accuracy using multiple LLM evaluators, track performance metrics over time, and compare against human benchmarks
Key Benefits
• Scalable automated evaluation of taxonomy quality • Systematic comparison between human and LLM evaluators • Version tracking of evaluation results across taxonomy iterations
Potential Improvements
• Integrate custom evaluation metrics for taxonomy coherence • Add support for ensemble evaluator approaches • Implement confidence scoring for automated assessments
Business Value
Efficiency Gains
Reduces manual evaluation effort by 70-80% through automated testing
Cost Savings
Cuts evaluation costs by replacing most human reviews with automated checks
Quality Improvement
Enables continuous quality monitoring and faster iteration cycles
  1. Workflow Management
  2. The paper's ensemble approach combining multiple data sources (CSO, Wikidata, LLMs) aligns with PromptLayer's multi-step orchestration capabilities
Implementation Details
Create reusable workflow templates that coordinate different data sources, manage version control of taxonomy updates, and track the entire classification pipeline
Key Benefits
• Streamlined integration of multiple data sources • Reproducible taxonomy generation process • Clear audit trail of taxonomy evolution
Potential Improvements
• Add parallel processing for multiple data sources • Implement automated conflict resolution • Create visualization tools for workflow monitoring
Business Value
Efficiency Gains
Reduces taxonomy development time by 50% through automated workflows
Cost Savings
Minimizes resource overhead by optimizing data source integration
Quality Improvement
Ensures consistent and reproducible taxonomy generation

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