PhD Theses |
2015 |
Müller, Richard: Software Visualization in 3D - Implementation, Evaluation, and Applicability. Leipzig University, 2015. (Type: PhD Thesis | Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 3D, controlled experiment, generative and model-driven software visualization, glyph-based visualization, Java, JavaScript, literature study, software visualization, X3D, X3DOM)@phdthesis{Muller2015c, The focus of this thesis is on the implementation, the evaluation and the useful application of the third dimension in software visualization. Software engineering is characterized by a complex interplay of different stakeholders that produce and use several artifacts. Software visualization is used as one mean to address this increasing complexity. It provides role- and task-specific views of artifacts that contain information about structure, behavior, and evolution of a software system in its entirety. The main potential of the third dimension is the possibility to provide multiple views in one software visualization for all three aspects. However, empirical findings concerning the role of the third dimension in software visualization are rare. Furthermore, there are only few 3D software visualizations that provide multiple views of a software system including all three aspects. Finally, the current tool support lacks of generating easy integrateable, scalable, and platform independent 2D, 2.5D, and 3D software visualizations automatically. Hence, the objective is to develop a software visualization that represents all important structural entities and relations of a software system, that can display behavioral and evolutionary aspects of a software system as well, and that can be generated automatically. In order to achieve this objective the following research methods are applied. A literature study is conducted, a software visualization generator is conceptualized and prototypically implemented, a structured approach to plan and design controlled experiments in software visualization is developed, and a controlled experiment is designed and performed to investigate the role of the third dimension in software visualization. The main contributions are an overview of the state-of-the-art in 3D software visualization, a structured approach including a theoretical model to control influence factors during controlled experiments in software visualization, an Eclipse-based generator for producing automatically role- and task-specific 2D, 2.5D, and 3D software visualizations, the controlled experiment investigating the role of the third dimension in software visualization, and the recursive disk metaphor combining the findings with focus on the structure of software including useful applications of the third dimension regarding behavior and evolution. |
Proceedings Articles |
2014 |
Müller, Richard; Kovacs, Pascal; Schilbach, Jan; Zeckzer, Dirk: How to Master Challenges in Experimental Evaluation of 2D versus 3D Software Visualizations. In: IEEE VIS 2014 International Workshop on 3DVis: Does 3D really make sense for Data Visualization?, Paris, France, 2014. (Type: Proceedings Article | Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 2D, 3D, controlled experiment, software visualization, virtual reality)@inproceedings{Muller2014b, Software visualizations in 3D and virtual reality are an interesting and debated research topic in academia. However, the benefits and drawbacks of 3D software visualizations in immersive environments compared to its 2D counterparts are not very well understood due to the lack of empirical evaluations. The challenge is to plan valid experiments with analogous 2D and 3D visualization techniques, while avoiding various influence factors and minimizing the threats to validity. In this paper, we present an experiment as part of a series using a structured approach to meet these challenges. |
Müller, Richard; Kovacs, Pascal; Schilbach, Jan; Eisenecker, Ulrich; Zeckzer, Dirk; Scheuermann, Gerik: A Structured Approach for Conducting a Series of Controlled Experiments in Software Visualization. In: 5th International Conference on Visualization Theory and Applications, pp. 204–209, Lisbon, Portugal, 2014. (Type: Proceedings Article | Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 3D, controlled experiment, evaluation, software visualization)@inproceedings{Muller2014a, In the field of software visualization controlled experiments are an important instrument to investigate the specific reasons, why some software visualizations excel the expectations on providing insights and ease task solving while others fail doing so. Despite this, controlled experiments in software visualization are rare. A reason for this is the fact that performing such evaluations in general, and particularly performing them in a way that minimizes the threats to validity, is hard to accomplish. In this paper, we present a structured approach on how to conduct a series of controlled experiments in order to give empirical evidence for advantages and disadvantages of software visualizations in general and of 2D vs. 3D software visualizations in particular. |
Publications
PhD Theses |
2015 |
Software Visualization in 3D - Implementation, Evaluation, and Applicability. Leipzig University, 2015. | :
Proceedings Articles |
2014 |
How to Master Challenges in Experimental Evaluation of 2D versus 3D Software Visualizations. In: IEEE VIS 2014 International Workshop on 3DVis: Does 3D really make sense for Data Visualization?, Paris, France, 2014. | :
A Structured Approach for Conducting a Series of Controlled Experiments in Software Visualization. In: 5th International Conference on Visualization Theory and Applications, pp. 204–209, Lisbon, Portugal, 2014. | :