Automated Comprehension Tasks in Software Exploration

Abstract

Abstract-Finding issues in software usually requires a serie of comprehension tasks. After every task, an engineer explores the results and decides whether further tasks are required. Software comprehension therefore is a combination of tasks and a supported exploration of the results typically in an adequate visualization. In this paper, we describe how we simplify the combination of existing automated procedures to sequentially solve common software comprehension tasks. Beyond that we improve the understanding of the outcomes with interactive and explorative visualization concepts in a time efficient workflow. We validate the presented concept with basic comprehension tasks in an extended CocoViz tool implementation.

Source Code Revision History Visualization Tools: Do They Work and What Would it Take to Put Them to Work?

“…Besides CodeCity, in the EvoSpaces project, S. Boccuzzo [52]- [54] designed the CocoViz tool, which integrated audio into a 3-D common space metaphor to represent concepts such as code smells or design erosion. CocoViz was focused on supporting the understanding of software structures and evolution, and helping answer common software comprehension questions.…”

“…The unifying EvoSpace tool combined successful concepts from both CodeCity and CocoViz, and had additional features such as the visualization of execution traces. Boccuzzo et al [54] categorized common software comprehension tasks into five categories, which were Functionality, Relationship of Code Entities, Features and their Implementation, Architecture and Design, and Testing. They introduced an automated workflow to help locate software entities based on these comprehension tasks.…”