Paper Info
Title
Program comprehension experiences with GXL; comprehension for comprehension
Abstract
Tools are vital to support the various activities that form the many tasks that are part of the program comprehension process. In order for these tools to be used and useful, it is necessary that they support the activities of the user. This support must complement the work methods and activities of the user and not hinder them. Whilst features of good tools have been identified, tool builders do not always adhere to them. It is important to consider whether needs have changed, and if those desirable properties need augmenting or revising. From experience of maintaining and enhancing an existing program comprehension tool for the purposes of participating in a re-engineering activity, many lessons on tool support have been learned. Various program comprehension strategies are introduced in this paper. The use of GXL (Graph eXchange Language) and involvement in the SORTIE project are presented with reference to the tool being adapted and used. Details of the changes made are given to illustrate the support desired. These all feed into the final section of the paper that discusses the sort of support that tools should provide, current tool deficiencies and some of the ways in which these could be addressed.
Year
DOI
Venue
2002
10.1109/WPC.2002.1021336
IWPC
Keywords
Field
DocType
electronic data interchange,program visualisation,reverse engineering,software tools,visual languages,GXL,Graph Exchange Language,SORTIE project,program comprehension,reengineering activity,tool deficiencies,user activities,user work methods
Graph,Electronic data interchange,Software engineering,Systems engineering,Computer science,Reverse engineering,sort,Program comprehension,Comprehension
Conference
ISSN
ISBN
Citations 
1092-8138
0-7695-1495-2
3
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.39
14
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Claire Knight118114.25
Malcolm Munro2877199.56