SoD-HCER: Comprehensibility as a Design Criterion

计算机和信息科学与工程局（CISE）计算机和网络系统（CNS）设计科学（SoD）计划提案编号：0613919 P/I：Ruben Gamboa机构：怀俄明州大学 职务名称：“SoD-HCER：可理解性作为一个设计标准“奖：$157，428持续时间：24 monthsThe的重点是软件设计的可理解性，其中提出了一个客观的可理解性措施，可以确定使用自动化技术检测程序的约束。使用可理解性作为评估设计的标准构成了一个重大的智力挑战，因为可理解性是一个主观的概念，使自动检测它的任务变得复杂。提议者检测可理解性的方法是修改两个程序分析工具（Daikon和AbsInt），以便这些工具可以用来理解“好”的设计。该项目有两个主要的研究目标：a）确定可理解性是否抓住了“好”设计的非正式概念。这个目标代表了对主要论点的经验验证（或反驳），即可理解性是好的设计所共有的关键品质;以及，B）识别使设计更易于理解的设计特征。这里的目的是分析在互联网上可以免费访问的不同程序，以识别易于被工具理解的设计，然后看看它们有什么共同的设计特征。这是一个高度投机的目标，但它是研究提出的主要科学问题。此外，这是一个可以对方案编制实践产生广泛影响的问题。该项目的论文，可理解性可以作为一个单一的标准，用于评估设计质量，这一标准可以客观地衡量使用自动化工具，推断程序的意义，提供了一个单一的和可测试的标准来衡量质量。这项研究使软件设计艺术更接近科学的立足点。这个项目的早期好处将是确定设计特点，导致更大的可理解性，从而提高设计质量。此外，集成自动化工具来客观地测量设计质量是该提案的一个独特和创新的方面。如果成功的话，该项目可以通过为从业者提供“好”的设计规则来促进设计科学的知识体系。此外，拟议中的研究有可能对计算机科学教育和编程实践产生重大影响。如果这个项目成功地建立了可理解性是设计质量的充分衡量标准，学生和专业设计师将有一个新的和客观的方式来判断不同的设计。项目经理：Anita J. La Salle日期：2006年6月28日

Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)Division Computer and Network Systems (CNS)Science of Design (SoD) ProgramProposal Number: 0613919 P/I: Ruben Gamboa Institution: University of Wyoming Title: "SoD-HCER: Comprehensibility as a Design Criterion"Award: $ 157,428Duration: 24 monthsThe focus of this project is on software design comprehensibility where an objective measure of comprehensibility is proposed that can be determined by the use of automated techniques for detecting program constraints. Using comprehensibility as a criterion for evaluating designs poses a major intellectual challenge because comprehensibility is a subjective notion that complicates the task of detecting it automatically. The proposers' approach toward detecting comprehensibility is to modify two program analysis tools (Daikon and AbsInt) so that those tools can be used to comprehend "good" designs. The project has two main research goals: a) Determine if comprehensibility captures the informal notion of "good" design. This goal represents the empirical validation (or refutation) of the main thesis, that comprehensibility is the key quality shared by good designs; and, b) Identify design features that make designs more comprehensible. The intent here is to analyze different programs that are freely accessible on the Internet to identify designs that are easily comprehended by the tools, and then to see what design features they have in common. This is a highly speculative goal, but it is the main scientific question raised by the research. Moreover, it is one that can have a broad impact on the practice of programming. The thesis of this project, that comprehensibility can be used as a single criterion for evaluating design quality and that this criterion can be measured objectively by using automated tools that infer meaning from programs, provides a single and testable criterion to measure quality. This research brings the art of software design one step closer to a scientific footing. An early benefit of this project will be the identification of design features that lead to greater comprehensibility, hence to better design quality. Moreover, the integration of automated tools to measure design quality objectively is an aspect of this proposal that is unique and innovative. If successful, the project may contribute to the body of knowledge of the science of design by presenting "good" design precepts for practitioners to follow. In addition, the proposed research has the potential to make a significant impact both on computer science education and on the practice of programming in general. If this project is successful in establishing that comprehensibility is an adequate measure of design quality, students and professional designers will have a new and objective way to judge different designs. Program Manager: Anita J. La SalleDate: June 28, 2006