Toward Understanding How Developers Recognize Features in Source Code from Descriptions

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Abstract

A basic clue of feature location available to developers is a description of a feature written in a natural language. However, a description of a feature does not clearly specify the boundary of the feature, while developers tend to locate the feature precisely by excluding marginal modules that are likely outside of the boundary. This paper addresses a question: does a clearer description of a feature enable developers to recognize the same sets of modules as relevant to the feature? Based on the conducted experiment with subjects, we conclude that different descriptions lead to a different set of modules.

BibTeX

@inproceedings{hayashi-aoasia2014,
    author = {Shinpei Hayashi and Takashi Ishio and Hiroshi Kazato and Tsuyoshi Oshima},
    title = {Toward Understanding How Developers Recognize Features in Source Code from Descriptions},
    booktitle = {Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Advanced Modularization Techniques},
    pages = {1--3},
    doi = {10.1145/2666358.2666578},
    year = 2014,
}