Methodologies and Technologies for Rule-Based Systems Design and Implementation. Towards Hybrid Knowledge Engineering

A practical design of non-trivial rule-based systems requires a systematic, structured and consistent approach. The paper focuses on selected issues in RBS knowledge engineering. Some ideas on combining knowledge engineering with software engineering are discussed. Furthermore, results of RBS design tools survey are enclosed. In the paper an original design and implementation methodology for RBS is also presented. It has been developed in the Mirella project. It is a top-down hierarchical design methodology, based on new knowledge representation methods (XTT and ARD), on-line logical system analysis in Prolog, and XMLbased knowledge encoding. Basing on the experience with XTT-based methodology, as well as tools supporting it, the paper discusses an extended hierarchical design methodology for RBS. A preview of the Hekate project, which aims at developing a hybrid knowledge engineering methodology is also given.