Demo-driven research
Tudor Gîrba
www.tudorgirba.com

2002 - 2005 : PhD student
2005 - 2009 : PostDoc

Modeling History
to Understand Software Evolution
Inauguraldissertation der
Philosophisch-naturwissenschaftlichen
Fakultät der Universität Bern
vorgelegt von
Tudor Gîrba
von Rumänien
Leiter der Arbeit:
Prof. Dr. Stéphane Ducasse
Prof. Dr. Oscar Nierstrasz
Institut für Informatik und
angewandte Mathematik

Lehman etal, 2001 Eick etal, 2002
Lanza, Ducasse, 2002
Gall etal, 1998

Evolution matrix reveals evolution patterns
Lanza, Ducasse, 2002
Pulsar
Class
Idle
Class
NOM
White Dwarf
Class
Class NOA
Supernova
Class
versions

Evolution matrix reveals evolution patterns
Lanza, Ducasse, 2002
Pulsar
Class
itly.
xplic
ion e
Idle
Class
l evolut
od e NOM
White Dwarf to m
Class
We need Class NOA
Supernova
Class
versions

History encapsulates evolution Girba, 2005
Pulsar
Class History
Idle
Class History ClassHistory
isPulsar
White Dwarf
Class History isIdle
…
Supernova
Class History
versions

System
Version
Class Class
History Version

System System
History Version
Class Class
History Version

System System
History Version
Class Class
History Version

System System
History Version
Inheritance
Version
Class Class
History Version

System System
History Version
Inheritance Inheritance
History Version
Class Class
History Version

Hismo models history as first class Girba, 2005
History Version
History Version
History Version

Modeling History
to Understand Software Evolution
Inauguraldissertation der
Philosophisch-naturwissenschaftlichen
Fakultät der Universität Bern
vorgelegt von
Tudor Gîrba
von Rumänien
Leiter der Arbeit:
Prof. Dr. Stéphane Ducasse
Prof. Dr. Oscar Nierstrasz
Institut für Informatik und
angewandte Mathematik

What is the process of research?

How do we know when we are
on the right track?

It’s not what you don’t know that kills you,
it’s what you know that isn’t so.
Tom deMarco

The research process
should concentrate on feedback.

Why is it so difficult to get feedback?

The engine of research is the PhD student.

The PhD student must be distant enough
from anyone around him.

Real feedback comes from interested people.

moose.unibe.ch
Moose is a collaborative platform for software analysis.

McCabe = 21
NOM 0
= 102
3 ,00
75
=
C
LO
Metrics Queries Visualizations ...
{ {
{ {
}
}
}
} { }

FAMIX
Repository Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Core

FAMIX
Repository Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Core
Java
External
MSE Smalltalk
Parser
C++

Chronia Cook CodeCity DynaMoose Hapax Softwarenaut SmallDude
FAMIX
Repository Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Core
Java
External
MSE Smalltalk
Parser
C++

CVS J-Wiretap MSE Source
Chronia Cook CodeCity DynaMoose Hapax Softwarenaut SmallDude
FAMIX
Repository Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Core
Java
External
MSE Smalltalk
Parser
C++

CVS J-Wiretap MSE Source
BugsLife Clustering
Concept
Analysis
Yellow
Submarine ...
Chronia Cook CodeCity DynaMoose Hapax Softwarenaut SmallDude
FAMIX
Repository Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Core
Java
External
MSE Smalltalk
Parser
C++

moose.unibe.ch
used for research in several universities
~100 men years of effort
>100 publications
since 1997

Demo-driven research is about
getting people interested enough
to provide real feedback.

Have a model.
1

Have a running model.
1

Have a story.
2

Make the story fit
the model.
3

Make the model fit
the story.
4

Just demo!
5

Ask for permission.

Have the starting point ready.

Have a roadmap.

Slides

Slides are visual aids.

Slides are visual aids.

Slides are visual aids.

7% Words
Mehrabian 38% Voice
model of
communication
55% Body language

Just demo!
5

Listen.
6

Release.

Listen.
6

Have a running model.
Have a story.
Make your story fit the model.
Make your model fit the story.
Just demo !
Listen.

Not knowing how to do something is not
an argument for how that something cannot be done.

Have a running model.
Have a story.
Make your story fit the model.
Make your model fit the story.
Just demo !
Listen.

Tudor Gîrba
www.tudorgirba.com
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/