Institute for Software Research
A Source Code Browser for Supporting Communication with Sticky Notes
Visitor: Katsuhisa Maruyama, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Co-Researcher: Shinichiro Yamamoto, Aich Prefectural University, Japan
There are two types of information
that is shared and exchanged between
collaborative software developers. One is a formal and permanent
document, for example, a requirement specification, a design diagram,
source code including comments. The other is casual or temporary
information. Memos and markers on the formal document, and Q&A about
it
are well-known examples of this information. Such information is impromptu
and individually managed and does not remain anywhere after constructing
software. However, a memo written by a developer is often useful for other
developers, or a collection of Q&A helps a developer avoid asking
others the
same or a similar question. We believe that the casual or temporary information
also plays an important role in developers' communication, and have developed
a browser that can stick electronic notes at any code fragment of the
Java source
code. The sticky note contains memos or the Q&A description as short
texts and
can be retrieved according to its contents. With our browser, developers
can easily share various information about source code.
Comments and questions: Debra A. Brodbeck, ISR Technical Relations Director, brodbeck@uci.edu