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ICPC 2020
Mon 13 - Wed 15 July 2020
co-located with ICSE 2020
Tue 14 Jul 2020 15:12 - 15:24 at ICPC - Session 7: About Developers Chair(s): Wahab Hamou-Lhadj

Background: The way how programmers comprehend source code depends on several factors, including the source code itself and the programmer. Recent studies showed that novice programmers tend to read source code more like natural language text, whereas experts tend to follow the program execution flow. But, it is unknown how the linearity of source code and the comprehension strategy influence programmers’ linearity of reading order.

Objective: We replicate two previous studies with the aim of additionally providing empirical evidence on the influencing effects of linearity of source code and programmers’ comprehension strategy on linearity of reading order.

Methods: To understand the effects of linearity of source code on reading order, we conducted a non-exact replication of studies by Busjahn et al. and Peachock et al., which compared the reading order of novice and expert programmers. Like the original studies, we used an eye-tracker to record the eye movements of participants (12 novice and 19 intermediate programmers).

Results: In line with Busjahn et al. (but different from Peachock et al.), we found that experience modulates the reading behavior of participants. However, the linearity of source code has an even stronger effect on reading order than experience, whereas the comprehension strategy has a minor effect.

Implications: Our results demonstrate that studies on the reading behavior of programmers must carefully select source code snippets to control the influence of confounding factors. Furthermore, we identify a need for further studies on how programmers should structure source code to align it with their natural reading behavior to ease program comprehension.

Tue 14 Jul

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15:00 - 16:00
Session 7: About DevelopersIndustry / Research / Programming Education at ICPC
Chair(s): Wahab Hamou-Lhadj Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
15:00
12m
Paper
How Graduate Computing Students Search When Using an Unfamiliar Programming Language
Research
Gina Bai North Carolina State University, Joshua Kayani , Kathryn Stolee North Carolina State University
Pre-print Media Attached
15:12
12m
Paper
What Drives the Reading Order of Programmers? An Eye Tracking Study
Research
Norman Peitek Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Janet Siegmund TU Chemnitz, Sven Apel Saarland University
Pre-print Media Attached
15:24
12m
Paper
Evaluating a Visual Approach for Understanding JavaScript Source Code
Research
Martín Dias University of Chile, Diego Orellana University of Chile, Santiago Vidal ISISTAN-CONICET, Leonel Merino University of Stuttgart, Alexandre Bergel University of Chile
Pre-print Media Attached
15:36
12m
Paper
How do Students Experience and Judge Software Comprehension Techniques?
Programming Education
Regina Hebig University of Gothenburg, Truong Ho-Quang , Rodi Jolak Chalmers | University of Gothenburg, Jan Schroeder Chalmers | University of Gothenburg, Linero Humberto Chalmers University of Technology, Ågren Magnus Chalmers University of Technology, Salome Maro Chalmers | University of Gothenburg
Media Attached
15:48
12m
Paper
Understanding What Software Engineers Are Working on — The Work-Item Prediction Challenge
Industry
Ralf Laemmel Facebook London, Alvin Kerber Facebook, Liane Praza
Pre-print Media Attached