A software component library management system is provided, which can
effectively support both a component utilization user and a component
management user in carrying out their business tasks. The component
management tool 6 includes a component retrieve/pickup function unit 10
and a component administration/registration function unit 20. The
component administration/registration function unit 20 is adapted to make
registrations of attribute information on software components stored in
the component database 5, such as relation information items representing
relations between the software component and other software components.
The component retrieve/pickup function unit 10 can retrieve and pickup a
batch of software components related to a specific software component,
based on the relation information items. The relation information item
includes a slave link used to identify a slave component which a certain
software component uses (slave information item), and a master link used
to identify a master component by which a certain software component is
used (master information item).