OurCode: Experiences Transitioning University Research into a Developer Tools Startup
Commercializing a university research project by creating a company offers a direct path for software engineering researchers based in a university to put their research directly into the hands of practicing software engineers. In this paper, we offer insight and reflections on tech transfer through the context of our journey with OurCode, a developer tools startup aimed at rethinking how developers interact with software documentation. We detail our experience shifting from a project focused on basic research into a business mindset focused on meeting customer needs. Our lessons underscore the importance of balancing technical innovation with business needs, leveraging mentorship for strategic guidance, and fostering community-driven approaches to branding and user engagement. We report on the process of customer discovery and lessons learned about onboarding and software documentation practices and how engineering leaders make choices around the adoption of new developers tools. We conclude with reflections on the challenges and value of tech transfer in software engineering, including what researchers can learn from failed transitions to align their innovations with real-world needs and startup dynamics.
Tue 24 JunDisplayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change
14:00 - 15:30 | ProcessIndustry Papers / Ideas, Visions and Reflections / Journal First / Research Papers at Aurora A Chair(s): Trey Woodlief University of Virginia, United States | ||
14:00 10mTalk | Non-Knowledge as a New Lens on Software Engineering Ideas, Visions and Reflections Jacob Krüger Eindhoven University of Technology, Xenia Marlene Zerweck Harz University of Applied Sciences, Sol Martinez Demarco Harz University of Applied Sciences, Alena Bleicher Harz University of Applied Sciences, Thomas Leich Harz University of Applied Sciences, Germany | ||
14:10 10mTalk | To Co-locate or Not to Co-locate? On the Impact of Hybrid Work to Software Design Process Ideas, Visions and Reflections Tommi Mikkonen University of Jyvaskyla, Mahum Adil Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, Ilenia Fronza Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, Italy, Gennaro Iaccarino Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, Petri Ihantola University of Jyväskylä | ||
14:20 20mTalk | “Ok Pal, we have to code that now”: Interaction Patterns of Programming Beginners with a Conversational Chatbot Journal First Alina Mailach Leipzig University, Dominik Gorgosch Chemnitz University of Technology, Norbert Siegmund Leipzig University, Janet Siegmund Chemnitz University of Technology | ||
14:40 20mTalk | Revolutionizing Newcomers' Onboarding Process in OSS Communities: The Future AI Mentor Research Papers Xin Tan Beihang University, Xiao Long , Yinghao Zhu Beihang University, Lin Shi Beihang University, Xiaoli Lian Beihang University, China, Li Zhang Beihang University DOI Pre-print | ||
15:00 20mTalk | OurCode: Experiences Transitioning University Research into a Developer Tools Startup Industry Papers Consuelo Lopez OurCode Inc., Sahar Mehrpour George Mason University, USA, Austin Henley Carnegie Mellon University, Thomas LaToza George Mason University | ||
15:20 10mTalk | Polymer: Development Workflows as Software Ideas, Visions and Reflections Dhasarathy Parthasarathy Volvo Group, Yinan Yu Chalmers University of Technology, Earl T. Barr University College London | ||
Aurora A is the first room in the Aurora wing.
When facing the main Cosmos Hall, access to the Aurora wing is on the right, close to the side entrance of the hotel.