Evaluating the use of Augmented Reality for Dependency Graph Analysis: A Controlled Experiment
The analysis of source code dependencies among components is an important task in software development. Despite the proliferation of software visualization tools designed to facilitate this task, most are limited to desktop applications, leaving the potential of augmented reality (AR) to enhance dependency analysis largely unexplored. This paper evaluates DGT-AR, an innovative node-link visualization tool that employs immersive augmented reality to represent code dependencies. DGT-AR extends the integrated development environment (IDE) by incorporating a spatially extended visualization area, allowing developers to manage dependencies without sacrificing screen space or resorting to external applications. In the controlled experiment conducted, 36 participants performed dependency analysis tasks using augmented reality and desktop environments. According to the results, it was observed that the environment does not significantly influence workload, efficiency, efficacy, or usability during the dependency analysis of the source code. These findings suggest that AR can support code-level dependency analysis as effectively as desktop settings, motivating future work to investigate whether its spatial capabilities offer clearer advantages for analyzing larger or more complex systems.
Sun 12 AprDisplayed time zone: Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil change
16:00 - 17:30 | Session 3 - Tools and Interfaces for Software AnalysisEarly Research Achievements (ERA) / Replications and Negative Results (RENE) / Tool Demonstration / ICPC Program / Research Track at Europa II Chair(s): Nicole Novielli University of Bari | ||
16:00 10mTalk | A Comparative Study of Dual-Monitor and Augmented-Reality Interfaces for Digital-Twin-Based Debugging Research Track Lucas Kreber Trier University, Nico Feld Trier University, Stephan Diehl Computer Science, University Trier, Germany, Benjamin Weyers Trier University | ||
16:10 5mTalk | Understanding CI/CD Workflow Runs Through Interactive and Animated Visualizations Early Research Achievements (ERA) Pablo Valenzuela-Toledo University of Bern, Universidad de La Frontera, Sebastiano Panichella University of Bern, Timo Kehrer University of Bern | ||
16:15 5mTalk | CrossLink: A Tool for Cross-Language (Java-C/C++) Code Comprehension Tool Demonstration Ajinkya Sawarkar Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Sridhar Chimalakonda Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Anirudh Arrepu Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati Media Attached File Attached | ||
16:20 5mTalk | BF-CBOM: Uncovering Cryptographic Assets Through Comparative CBOM Analysis at Scale Tool Demonstration DOI Pre-print Media Attached | ||
16:25 5mTalk | COBMaker - An Interactive Block-Based Programming Environment for COBOL Tool Demonstration Satish Pati IIT Tirupati, Raghavendra Pappu IIT Tirupati, Rahul Krishna Gaddam IIT Tirupati, Sridhar Chimalakonda Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati Media Attached | ||
16:30 5mTalk | CPPJoules: An Energy Measurement Tool for C++ Tool Demonstration Shivadharshan S Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Akilesh P Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Rajrupa Chattaraj Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, India, Sridhar Chimalakonda Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati Media Attached | ||
16:35 10mTalk | Can We Spot Energy Regressions Using Developers Tests? An Industrial Replication Replications and Negative Results (RENE) Louay Khrouf Berger-Levrault, Anas Shatnawi Berger-Levrault, Romain Rouvoy Univ. Lille / Inria / IUF | ||
16:45 10mTalk | Evaluating the use of Augmented Reality for Dependency Graph Analysis: A Controlled Experiment Replications and Negative Results (RENE) Juan Pablo Sandoval Alcocer Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Dussan Freire-Pozo Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad Católica Boliviana, Tiara Rojas-Stambuk Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad Católica Boliviana, Alison Fernandez-Blanco Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Leonel Merino Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile | ||
16:55 5mTalk | Test Behaviors, Not Methods! Detecting Tests Obsessed by Methods Early Research Achievements (ERA) Pre-print Media Attached | ||
17:00 10mTalk | Déjà Vu: A Replication Study on Code Smells and Faults in JavaScript Projects Replications and Negative Results (RENE) Kevin Pacifico University of Salerno, Giammaria Giordano University of Salerno, Valeria Pontillo Gran Sasso Science Institute, Massimiliano Di Penta University of Sannio, Italy, Damian Andrew Tamburri University of Sannio - JADS/NXP Semiconductors, Fabio Palomba University of Salerno Link to publication | ||
17:10 10mTalk | Industrial Replication of COLOR: Locator Repair in Continuous Integration and Failure Patterns under UI/DOM Evolution Replications and Negative Results (RENE) Hilal Taha University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Mike Papadakis University of Luxembourg, Joel Muller BGL BNP Paribas DOI File Attached | ||
17:20 10mLive Q&A | Joint QA and Discussion ICPC Program | ||