Abstract
In software development, maintaining good design is essential. The process of refactoring enables developers to improve this design during development without altering the program’s existing behavior. However, this process can be time-consuming, introduce semantic errors, and be difficult for developers inexperienced with refactoring or unfamiliar with a given code base. Automated refactoring tools can help not only by applying these changes, but by identifying opportunities for refactoring. Yet, developers have not been quick to adopt these tools due to a lack of trust between the developer and the tool. We propose an approach in the form of a visualization to aid developers in understanding these suggested operations and increasing familiarity with automated refactoring tools. We also provide a manual validation of this approach and identify options to continue experimentation.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Software refactoring; Agile sofware development; Information visualization; Software engineering--Psychological aspects
Publication Date
5-18-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Software Engineering (MS)
Department, Program, or Center
Software Engineering (GCCIS)
Advisor
Scott Hawker
Advisor/Committee Member
Daniel Krutz
Advisor/Committee Member
Mohamed Wiem Mkaouer
Recommended Citation
Bogart, Alexander, "On Increasing Trust Between Developers and Automated Refactoring Tools Through Visualization" (2017). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/9431
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Plan Codes
SOFTENG-MS
Comments
Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at QA76.76.R42 B64 2017