Mark Francis Wilding

An iterative, multi-level, and scalable approach to comparing execution traces

In this paper, we overview a new approach to comparing execution traces. Such comparison can be useful for purposes such as improving test coverage and profiling systems users. In our approach, traces are compressed into different levels of compaction and are then compared iteratively from highest to lowest levels, rejecting dissimilar traces in the process and eventually leaving residual, similar traces. These residual traces form an important feedback for improvement or analysis goals. The preliminary results show that the approach is scalable for industrial use.

The impact of non-technical factors on Software Architecture

Most of the research and pedagogical literature in Software Architecture is on technical issues. Recently, however, there has been increasing interest on the importance of non-technical factors such as leadership, communication, inter-personal skills, work habits etc. in architecting. In this paper, we continue this line of research by conducting an empirical study examining the impact of non-technical factors in Software Architecture from the viewpoint of academia. We analysed non-technical problems encountered from 15 student architecting teams to determine the types of problems students have, and also their impact on the quality of the architecture. Furthermore, we analyzed the IEEE/ACM Software Engineering and Computer Science curriculums to determine any correspondence between these curriculums and the students architecting performance. Based on this analysis, we make recommendations for the improved education of student software architects.