Since the start of software, comprehension has always been an issue solved through various methods, such as bottom-up models or visualizing code, specifically graphs. They are used to obtain a bird’s-eye view and the execution path of the software. Although these tools exist, they must include important usability features. When creating software, it is essential to prioritize usability as a crucial factor. This thesis aims to identify gaps in call graph-generating software in terms of its usability. Through this, we aim to fill the gaps by creating a new call graph-generating tool with improved usability and functionality. We conducted a literature review to identify the gaps in the understanding of software comprehension. Our findings emphasize the significance of software comprehension in enhancing maintainability, usability, and guidelines. These guidelines were used to assess the open-source tools available. The gaps found helped build a foundation for creating the tool code while following the five usability guidelines. Subsequently, we conducted a within-subject study with interviews with developers and managers using our tool (CodeViz) and an open-source tool. During the interviews, we took note of the participants' feedback and completed a form. Using this data, we created graphs for the Likert data and categorizing of the text questions. We found various improvements in these aspects through Likert data, with 31\% responding more positively to comprehending the graph. With the categorizing of the questions, we found that the participants found the interactivity very useful. The simplicity of obtaining an overview of the project helped improve its effectiveness and comprehension. Furthermore, being able to aid their comprehension helps software maintainability.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:bth-25332 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Gustafsson, Pontus, Hazem, Ibrahim |
| Publisher | Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Institutionen för programvaruteknik |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds