%0 Journal Article %1 benestad09 %A Benestad, Hans Christian %A Anda, Bente %A Arisholm, Erik %C Simula Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 134, 1325 Lysaker, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway %D 2009 %J Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution: Research and Practice %K imported %N 9999 %P n/a %R 10.1002/smr.412 %T Understanding software maintenance and evolution by analyzing individual changes: a literature review %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smr.412 %V 9999 %X Understanding, managing and reducing costs and risks inherent in change are key challenges of software maintenance and evolution, addressed in empirical studies with many different research approaches. Change-based studies analyze data that describes the individual changes made to software systems. This approach can be effective in order to discover cost and risk factors that are hidden at more aggregated levels. However, it is not trivial to derive appropriate measures of individual changes for specific measure- ment goals. The purpose of this review is to improve change-based studies by (1) summarizing how attributes of changes have been measured to reach specific study goals and (2) describing current achieve- ments and challenges, leading to a guide for future change-based studies. Thirty-four papers conformed to the inclusion criteria. Forty-three attributes of changes were identified, and classified according to a conceptual model developed for the purpose of this classification. The goal of each study was to either characterize the evolution process, to assess causal factors of cost and risk, or to predict costs and risks. Effective accumulation of knowledge across change-based studies requires precise definitions of attributes and measures of change. We recommend that new change-based studies base such definitions on the proposed conceptual model.

@article{benestad09, abstract = {Understanding, managing and reducing costs and risks inherent in change are key challenges of software maintenance and evolution, addressed in empirical studies with many different research approaches. Change-based studies analyze data that describes the individual changes made to software systems. This approach can be effective in order to discover cost and risk factors that are hidden at more aggregated levels. However, it is not trivial to derive appropriate measures of individual changes for specific measure- ment goals. The purpose of this review is to improve change-based studies by (1) summarizing how attributes of changes have been measured to reach specific study goals and (2) describing current achieve- ments and challenges, leading to a guide for future change-based studies. Thirty-four papers conformed to the inclusion criteria. Forty-three attributes of changes were identified, and classified according to a conceptual model developed for the purpose of this classification. The goal of each study was to either characterize the evolution process, to assess causal factors of cost and risk, or to predict costs and risks. Effective accumulation of knowledge across change-based studies requires precise definitions of attributes and measures of change. We recommend that new change-based studies base such definitions on the proposed conceptual model.}, added-at = {2009-09-03T16:23:38.000+0200}, address = {Simula Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 134, 1325 Lysaker, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway}, author = {Benestad, Hans Christian and Anda, Bente and Arisholm, Erik}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2ded594544f9dc7180586aa6007089f82/neilernst}, description = {Wiley InterScience :: JOURNALS :: Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution: Research and Practice}, doi = {10.1002/smr.412}, interhash = {dcf2943f074bda17efe3d73d7f105040}, intrahash = {ded594544f9dc7180586aa6007089f82}, journal = {Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution: Research and Practice}, keywords = {imported}, number = 9999, pages = {n/a}, timestamp = {2009-09-03T16:23:38.000+0200}, title = {Understanding software maintenance and evolution by analyzing individual changes: a literature review}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smr.412}, volume = 9999, year = 2009 }