Blogs (1) >>
VL/HCC 2020
Tue 11 - Fri 14 August 2020 Dunedin, New Zealand
Wed 12 Aug 2020 14:15 - 14:30 at Zoom Room - Understanding and Helping Developers Chair(s): Scott Fleming

As developers debug, developers formulate hypotheses about the cause of the defect and gather evidence to test these hypotheses. To better understand the role of hypotheses in debugging, we conducted two studies. In a preliminary study, we found that, even with the benefit of modern internet resources, incorrect hypotheses can cause developers to investigate irrelevant information and block progress. We then conducted a controlled experiment where 20 developers debugged and recorded their hypotheses. We found that developers have few hypotheses, two per defect. Having a correct hypothesis early strongly predicted later success. We also studied the impact of two debugging aids: fault locations and potential hypotheses. Offering fault locations did not help developers formulate more correct hypotheses or debug more successfully. In contrast, offering potential hypotheses made developers six times more likely to succeed. These results demonstrate the potential of future debugging tools that enable finding and sharing relevant hypotheses.

Wed 12 Aug

Displayed time zone: Pacific Time (US & Canada) change

14:15 - 15:08
Understanding and Helping DevelopersResearch Papers at Zoom Room
Chair(s): Scott Fleming University of Memphis
14:15
15m
Talk
Using Hypotheses as a Debugging AidFull paper
Research Papers
Abdulaziz Alaboudi George Mason University, Thomas LaToza George Mason University
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14:30
15m
Talk
Find Unique Usages: Helping Developers Understand Common UsagesFull paper
Research Papers
Emad Aghayi George Mason University, Aaron Massey George Mason University, Thomas LaToza George Mason University
Authorizer link Pre-print File Attached
14:45
15m
Talk
A Case Study of Software Security Red Teams at MicrosoftFull paper
Research Papers
Justin Smith Lafayette College, Chris Theisen Microsoft, Titus Barik Microsoft
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15:00
7m
Talk
Refactoring from 9 to 5? What and When Employees and Volunteers Contribute to OSSShort paper
Research Papers
Luiz Felipe Fronchetti Dias University of São Paulo, Caio Barbosa PUC-RJ, Gustavo Pinto UFPA, Igor Steinmacher Northern Arizona University, Baldoino Fonseca Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Márcio Ribeiro Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil, Christoph Treude The University of Adelaide, Daniel Alencar Da Costa University of Otago
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