Paper Info
Title
Analyzing feature traces to incorporate the semantics of change in software evolution analysis
Abstract
Many of the approaches that analyze software evolution consider a static perspective of a system. Static analysis approaches focus on the evolution of static software entities such as packages, classes and methods. Without knowledge of the roles software entities play in system features, it is difficult to interpret the motivation behind changes and extensions in the code. To tackle this problem, we propose an approach to software evolution analysis that exploits the relationships between features and software entities. Our definition of a feature is a unit of observable behavior of a software system. We define history measurements that summarize the evolution of software entities from a feature perspective. We show how we use our feature perspective of software evolution to interpret modifications and extensions to the code. We apply our approach on two case studies and discuss our findings.
Year
DOI
Venue
2005
10.1109/ICSM.2005.22
ICSM
Keywords
Field
DocType
program diagnostics,software prototyping,feature trace analysis,semantic incorporation,software evolution analysis,software system,static analysis,static software entities,dynamic analysis,feature history,reverse engineering,software evolution,transitions of characterizations
Static program analysis,Software design description,Systems engineering,Computer science,Theoretical computer science,Software system,Software evolution,Software construction,Software visualization,Software sizing,Software development
Conference
ISSN
ISBN
Citations 
1063-6773
0-7695-2368-4
20
PageRank 
References 
Authors
1.24
23
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Orla Greevy121514.22
Stéphane Ducasse23418243.15
Tudor Girba372940.01