Common framework for the evaluation process of KBS and conventional software

Conventional software (CS) and knowledge-based software (KBS) validation and verification have been traditionally accepted to be radically different disciplines with nothing in common. However, the differences between CS and KBS should not stop efforts being made to develop a general framework for evaluation, covering validation and verification of both types of software. A review of the concepts of validation, verification and testing in both software engineering and knowledge engineering may lead to a better understanding of the objectives of software evaluation during software development and enable a framework for the evaluation of both CS and KBS to be proposed. This does not mean that the same techniques should be applied to both types of software. An evaluation framework should establish the types of evaluation to be conducted, when they are to be conducted and what techniques are to be used. So, even if it is common to both types of software, the framework may contain techniques usable in both cases and techniques peculiar to one type of software.