The document discusses the intersection of software analysis and natural language queries, exploring how programming languages influence cognitive processes similar to natural languages. It highlights challenges faced by developers due to a lack of comments in their code, which complicates understanding and using analysis tools. Additionally, the author suggests the need for linguistic insights to enhance software analysis and addresses communication barriers for new developers.

1. Software Analysis using Natural Language
Queries
Let linguistics guide
software analysis
Pooja Ran
i
Ph.D Studen
t
Software Composition Grou
p
University of Bern, Switzerland

2. Inspiration
Do programming languages shape our mind as the natural languages do?
2
Programming languages like R, Java, Python, C++ etc
Natural languages like English, German, French etc.

3. Software Analysis
Code snippet of a function that calculates the distance between two sentences.

4. Software Analysis
Code snippet of a function that calculates the distance between two sentences.

5. Software Analysis
Code snippet of a function that calculates the distance between two sentences.

6. Software Analysis
Code snippet of a function that calculates the distance between two sentences.

7. Software Analysis
Code snippet of a function that calculates the distance between two sentences.

8. 8
The Interesting part is developers most of the
time do not write comments for their code.

9. 9
How we are suppose to understand code
elements without description?

10. 10
We search for code elements in tools. For their
examples, occurrences in function or comments.

11. 11
McQuestionDistance

12. Not everyone can use these tools.
12

13. 13
Communication barrier for new developers
Natural language interface for analysis tools

14. 14
Search in English

15. 15
The Interesting part is developers most of the
time do not write comments for their code.

16. 16
The Interesting part is developers most of the
time do not write comments for their code.

17. 17
When they write, how will you take maximum
information our of those comments?

18. 18
How developers write comments

19. Challenges

20. 20
➔ The text data is mixed of programming and natural language
➔ Applying linguistics to software artifacts
➔ Semantic tools are not ready for software engineering domain
➔ Developers do not write detailed comments

21. 21
Analyze structure of a sentence

22. Summary
22
scg.unibe.ch/staff/Pooja-Rani twitter.com/poojaruhal
pooja@inf.unibe.ch

23. 23
Feedback
What kinds of linguistic analysis we can do on a software?
What are the linguistic patterns of developers in different programming language?
What are the social aspects of a natural language text present in a software?
Is there any English linguistic expert here, I would like to meet.