10:30 - 12:00 |
PANEL SESSION: Analyzing Software Data: After the Gold Rush (a "Goldfish bowl" Panel)
Over the past few years, the volume and types of data related to software engineering has grown at an unprecedented rate and shows no sign of slowing. This turn of events has led to a veritable gold rush, as researchers attempt to mine raw data and extract nuggets of insight. A very real danger is that the landscape may become a Wild West where inexperienced software “cowboys” sell hastily generated models to unsophisticated business users, without any concern for best or safe practices.
Given the current enthusiasm for data analysis in software engineering, it is time to review how we using those techniques and can we use them better. While there may be no single best “right” way to analyze software data, there are many wrong ways. As data techniques mature, we need to move to a new era where data scientists understand and share the strengths and drawbacks of the many methods that might be deployed in industry.
We therefore propose an interactive panel at ICSE’14 where skilled practitioners and academics can (a) broadcast their insights and (b) hear the issues of newcomers in this field.
Historical note:
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Menzies and Zimmermann ran such an interactive “goldfish bowl” panel at ICSE’12 (described below). In 90-minutes, over 20 speakers rotated through the podium. The audience found the session vibrant and ex-citing. Newcomers to the field said that they found the panel the most approachable, comprehensible and comprehensive event at ICSE’12. We hence propose repeating that format in ICSE’14 (but with a very different emphasis on the topic)
What is a goldfish bowl panel?
- Four to five chairs are arranged in the inner “fishbowl” circle.
- Panelists initialize the discussion, sitting in the middle.
- One middle chair is always left empty.
- The audience sits in other chairs, arranged in concentric circles outside the fishbowl.
Any member of the audience can, at any time, occupy the empty chair and join the fishbowl. When this happens, an existing member of the fishbowl must voluntarily leave the fishbowl and free a chair. The discussion continues with participants frequently entering and leaving the fishbowl.
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12:00 - 12:30 |
Experiences Gamifying Developer Adoption of Practices and Tools
As software development practices evolve, toolsmiths face the continuous challenge of getting developers to adopt new practices and tools. We tested an idea with industrial software developers that adding game-like feedback to the development environment would improve adoption of tools and practices for code navigation. We present results from a pre-study survey of 130 developers' opinions on gamification and motivation, usage data from a pilot with an intact team of six developers of a game on code navigation practices, and feedback collected in post-pilot interviews. Our pre-study survey showed that most developers were interested in gamification, though some have strong negative opinions. Pilot results show that two of the six pilot developers adjusted their practices when presented with competitive game elements.
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