Designing a Software Exploration Tool Using a Cognitive Framework
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, (2002)Abstract
The scope of software visualization tools that exist for the navigation, analysis and presentation of software information varies widely. One class of tools, which we refer to as software exploration tools, provides graphical representations of static software structures linked to textual views of the program source code and documentation. This chapter describes how a software exploration tool, called SHriMP Views, has been designed using a hierarchy of cognitive design elements. The hierarchy of cognitive design elements was derived through the examination of program comprehension cognitive models and from observations of programmers browsing and exploring programs. These design elements address key issues to be considered during the design of a software exploration tool. This chapter details how SHriMP provides support for various program comprehension strategies, as well as how it makes use of effective presentation styles for visualizing complex software systems
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