Elizabeth Burd

Evaluating clone detection tools for use during preventative maintenance

This paper describes the results of a process whereby the detection capability of 5 code replication detection tools for large software application are evaluated. Specifically this work focuses on the benefits of identification for preventative maintenance that is with the aim to remove some of the identified clones from the source code. A number of requirements are therefore identified upon which the tools are evaluated. The results of the analysis processes show that each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses and no single tool is able to identify all clones within the code. The paper proposes that it may be possible to use a combination of tools to perform the analysis process providing that adequate means of efficiently identifying false matches is found.

Multi-Touch Tables and the Relationship with Collaborative Classroom Pedagogies: A Synthetic Review

This article reviews the research and evidence about multi-touch tables to provide an analysis of their key design features and capabilities and how these might relate to their use in educational settings to support collaborative learning. A typology of design features is proposed as a synthesis of the hardware and physical characteristics of the tables so that the longevity of these factors and the associated analysis can be better preserved, particularly in relation to the range of ways in which they may be used collaboratively in classrooms. The variability of features relating to software is also analysed and key pedagogic issues identified. The aim that underpins this review is to relate the design of the technical features with key pedagogic issues concerning the use of digital technologies in classrooms, so as to provide a more robust basis for their integration in classrooms in terms of their potential to support or to improve learning.

Evaluating the suitability of data clustering for software remodularisation

The paper describes the investigation of a technique for remodularising legacy software; that of cluster analysis. This technique takes into account data cohesion as an influencing factor of the remodularisation process and compares and contrasts this with calling structure analysis. Cluster analysis is a well-established discipline used in other sciences but only recently linked to software remodularisation. A number of different cluster analysis techniques were chosen for evaluation. A tool was developed to perform this cluster analysis with two main aims; to provide a way of evaluating the chosen techniques and to provide a usable method of generating a remodularisation of a software system. The techniques evaluated produced modularisations of varying quality. However, it is thought that cluster analysis is a valuable and useful approach to software remodularisation that is worth further investigation. In particular the data structure analysis provided significantly better results than the calling structure analysis.

Extracting reusable modules from legacy code: considering the issues of module granularity

The paper describes the work of a reverse engineering project. The project is concerned with the identification of reusable modules of code from legacy systems. The authors apply a number of existing techniques and methods to large COBOL programs and attempt to integrate the methods to satisfy the needs of their industrial sponsors. They have found that the issue of module granularity is one of the important factors for successful reuse. By integrating and applying parts of the RECAST method and techniques from the RE/sup 2/ paradigm, they have identified modules at different levels of granularity. The paper includes some results and a discussion of the identification of reuse modules at different levels of granularity.

An initial approach towards measuring and characterising software evolution

Proposes a number of metrics to assess the maintainability of code. Dominance relations are used to express the complexity of call relations and an assumption is made that, when more complex relations are present within a source code module, it is harder for an application to be maintained. The paper describes a case study whereby the changes in dominance relations are investigated over versions of the software. Based on the changes to the relations, assumptions are made regarding the maintainability of the software. These assumptions are later verified by investigating change documentation and interviewing the maintainers. The results of this study seem to indicate that the dominance relations do reflect some principles of code maintainability.

Investigating the maintenance implications of the replication of code

This paper describes an investigation into the use of code replication within legacy software systems. Two cases of replication are investigated. These are replication with an individual program and replication of an entire or part of a program across a program suite. For each of the cases an example is given from code used within the commercial sector. The instances of replication are then investigated and the implication of their occurrences within the code on the maintenance process are considered. The reasons why code replication is not a form of software reuse are discussed. Finally this paper investigates whether, with reengineering, areas of high usage of code replication are potential candidates for reuse

The case for the use of plain English to increase web accessibility

Within the endeavour of work to increase the accessibility of Web pages, little attention has been paid to the contribution that simplifying the textual content could make. Furthermore, attention needs to be given to alternative renderings of Web page content as the Web becomes more graphically and aurally orientated. This paper describes the role that plain language can play in supporting accessibility, particularly where textual content must be translated into sign language or speech, where plain language is clear and simple language which is both readable and understandable by the audience for which it is intended. It concludes that the use of plain language in Web sites can aid accessibility for many categories of user including those with hearing or visual disabilities, or both as is the case with the deaf-blind population, but also for the population as a whole.

Investigating component-based maintenance and the effect of software evolution: a reengineering approach using data clustering

As software applications increase in size, grouping the application into smaller, more manageable components is often proposed as a means of assisting software maintenance activities. This paper investigates the suitability of components generated using data clustering techniques. The suitability of the approach is based on real case studies from a commercial environment. Successive versions of the software application are used to investigate how the software applications change throughout the maintenance process. Within this paper, the change process as a whole is referred to as the process of software evolution. This paper provides an indication of how applications evolve over time and how clustering techniques are affected by the evolution process.

Enriching program comprehension for software reuse

The paper describes the process of code scavenging for reuse. In particular we consider enriching program comprehension for the identification and integration of reuse components by information abstraction and the use of graphical representations. The requirements of good reuse candidates are described, and then a description of a process of identifying and preparing for their reengineering into reuse units is given, In particular we describe two main activities: the identification of units; and the definition of the units user interface. Initially, the identification of reusable units applies some of the methods from RE/sup 2/ but is extended with the use of graph simplification procedures. The identification process is based on the calling structure of the code. Secondly, data analysis is performed on the identified reuse candidates. The data analysis process provides an indication of the potential use of the component and the effect required to make the candidate reusable. The paper provides examples and results from a number of case studies which have been used to evaluate this work. Our work relies heavily on there being communication between technical and non-technical staff. We achieve this through the use of graphical representation and thus results are displayed graphically where applicable.

Evaluating using animation to improve understanding of sequence diagrams

This paper describes an experiment whereby the benefit of using animation to improve the comprehensibility of UML sequence diagrams is assessed. The paper hypothesizes that through animation the control flow of sequence diagram will become more evident. The development a system that seeks to enable stakeholders to better interpret UML modeling behaviour is described. This system aims to provide dynamic visualization through the use of animation techniques. A study to evaluate the extent to which the animation of a diagram can aid its interpretation is then described. The results of the study show that the animation system did improve the comprehensibility of the sequence diagram control flow thus improving the comprehensibility when compared to the comprehensibility of a traditional static representation. Finally, this paper discusses the reasoning for these results.