The Virtual Software Production Laboratory(VPSL): an innovative approach to accelerate theory building in software engineering

建议的研究的目的是加速理论建设，在软件工程中的补充和整合目前的实证研究的虚拟软件生产实验室（VSPL）。一个VSPL包括一套系统开发的可重用软件过程模拟模块，可以组成和定制，以运行面向目标的模拟实验。特别是，在探索技术替代方案时，为了涵盖不同的影响因素，往往需要进行多种多样的实验，但通过模拟，可以很容易地以可控的方式进行。因此，可以缩短学习周期，因为可以容易地产生不同的启动条件、外部影响或过程特性。VSPL的主要目的是产生（广义）关于软件开发技术和工具在定义的产品质量目标方面的有效性的假设。基于所收集的（单个）经验证据，将通过上下文因素的系统变化（即，所有其他相关方法、工具和技术的集合，结合人员能力和技能）。模拟结果将汇总成成效概况，作为可进行系统性实证检验的明确假设。由于拟议的研究旨在提供概念验证，因此它将侧重于支持与有限类别的技术和工具相关的理论构建，例如，专注于需求工程和架构设计。

The objective of the proposed research is to accelerate theory building in software engineering by complementing and integrating current empirical research by a Virtual Software Production Laboratory (VSPL). A VSPL consists of a systematically developed set of reusable software process simulation modules which can be composed and tailored in order to run goal-oriented simulation experiments. In particular, the multitude of variations of an experiment, which is often necessary to cover different impact factors when exploring technology alternatives, can easily be performed in a controlled manner by simulation. Consequently, learning cycles can be shortened, as different starting conditions, external influences, or process characteristics can easily be generated. The main purpose of the VSPL is to produce (generalized) hypotheses about the effectiveness of software development techniques and tools with regards to defined product quality goals. Based upon the collected (individual) pieces of empirical evidence, hypotheses will be created by systematic variation of context factors (i.e., the set of all other relevant methods, tools and techniques in place, combined with people competencies and skills) through combined Monte-Carlo and process simulation. The results of the simulations will be aggregated into effectiveness profiles which serve as well-defined hypotheses that can be exposed to systematic empirical testing. Since the proposed research aims to deliver a proof-of-concept, it will focus on supporting theory building linked to a restricted class of techniques and tools, e.g., focusing on requirements engineering and architectural design.