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

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

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

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

History encapsulates evolution Girba, 2005
Pulsar
Class History
Idle
ClassHistory
Class History
isPulsar
White Dwarf
isIdle
Class History
…
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
,00
3
75
=
C
LO
...
Metrics Queries Visualizations
{ {
{
{
}
}
}
} }
{

FAMIX
Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Repository Core

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

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

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

CVS J-Wiretap MSE Source
...
Concept Yellow
BugsLife Clustering
Analysis Submarine
Chronia Cook CodeCity DynaMoose Hapax Softwarenaut SmallDude
FAMIX
Meta UI Mondrian EyeSee
Repository 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.

1
Have a model.

1
Have a running model.

2
Have a story.

3
Make the story fit
the model.

4
Make the model fit
the story.

5
Just demo!

Ask for permission.

Choose your message.

Choose one message.

Omit needless words

Slides are visual aids.

Design is not the abundance of simplicity.
It is the absence of complexity.

Slides are visual aids.

Important sign
• At this sign, stop, look around and proceed if no other car is coming your way.
• Important!!!! The cars coming from the other directions will not have to stop.
• This sign was put here by the authorities in charge.
• This sign concerns vehicles only. Pedestrians should look at the signs dedicated
to them.
• This sign should not be touched or hindered in any way. Any violation is
punishable according to the law.

STOP

Slides are visual aids.

Slides are visual aids.

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

presentationzen.com
www.tudorgirba.com

5
Just demo!

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

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