[comp.ai.shells] Backward chaining in Shells

karlth@rhi.hi.is (Karl Thoroddsen) (10/18/89)

I'm currently in the process of writing a shell for the PC computers.
I've finished writing the enviroment for the shell and the internal logic
i.e. the expert system builder inputs his data into a spreadsheet like 
screen and using that information the program then comes up with the
"correct" solution.
Now the problem is that my shell lacks a feature called "backward chaining",
which, according to textbooks, is essential in shells.
But I can't incorperate it into the shell if I don't know what it means!

Could someone send me brief description of what backward chaining does?

Yours faithfully

Karl Thoroddsen    (Computer Science, University of Iceland)