Learning ones way about and navigating large code bases, ones with 100s-1000s of class files, is time consuming and difficult. An approach that shows potential is to use spatial layout so that our spatial memory (which is very strong) can contribute to remembering where particular code is and how it is related to other bits of code. In addition connectors and other visualisations can be added to the layout to describe or relationships between files/classes. In order to be useful such a tool must be integrated into a programming environment such as Visual Studio or Eclipse. A preliminary prototype that solves the basic IDE integration issues has been built in Visual Studio. The goal for this project is to make it into a usable and useful tool for developers.
Undergraduate
An IDE add-in that provides spatial and layout and visualisation for a large code corpus that is demonstrated to both useful and usable.
SE702 Recommended
Lab allocations have not been finalised