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

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at QA76.76.R42 B64 2017

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

SOFTENG-MS

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