Skip to main content

Modeling Software Evolution with Game Theory

  • Conference paper
Trustworthy Software Development Processes (ICSP 2009)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 5543))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

A wrong design decision at any point in the software lifecycle can lead to cost overruns and competitive disadvantage. We describe how lightweight game theory can help software engineering teams plan for future design and maintenance decisions. To demonstrate our approach, we model the real-world evolution of java.util.Calendar using our lightweight Basic Software Evolution Game. The game expressively models both what actually happened as well as circumstances when alternate design decisions would be optimal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Sullivan, K., Griswold, W., Cai, Y., Hallen, B.: The structure and value of modularity in software design. In: ESEC/FSE (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Boehm, B.W.: Software Engineering Economics. Prentice Hall PTR, Englewood Cliffs (1981)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Denne, M., Cleland-Huang, J.: Software By Numbers. Prentice Hall PTR, Englewood Cliffs (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dutta, P.K.: Strategies and Games: theory and practice. MIT Press, Cambridge (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Keeney, R.L.: Value-Focused Thinking. Harvard University Press (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Boehm, B., Abts, C., Brown, A.W., Chulani, S., Clark, B.K., Horowitz, E., Madachy, R., Reifer, D.J., Steece, B.: Software Cost Estimation with Cocomo II. Prentice Hall PTR, Englewood Cliffs (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Parnas, D.: On the criteria to be used in decomposing systems into modules. Communications of the ACM (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Garlan, D., Kaiser, G., Notkin, D.: Using tool abstraction to compose systems. IEEE Computer (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sun Microsystems: Supported calendars (2005), http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/intl/calendar.doc.html

  10. Phillips, A.: It’s about time (2005), http://www.inter-locale.com/demos/about-time/about-time-ext.xml

  11. Sun Developer Network: Bug ID: 4609228 (cal) RFE: Provide additional local calendars in Java (2001-2005), http://bugs.sun.com

  12. ICU Project: International components for unicode (2000-2008), http://icu-project.org

  13. Shor, M.: Extensive form game applet (2001-2006), http://www.gametheory.net/Mike/applets/ExtensiveForm/

  14. Boehm, B.W.: Theory-W software project management: Principles and examples. IEEE Transitions on Software Engineering (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Boehm, B.W., Bose, P.: A collaborative spiral software process model based on theory W. In: ICSP (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zagal, J.P., Ahués, R.S., Voehl, M.N.: Maintenance-oriented design and development: A case study. IEEE Software (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Brandenburger, A.M., Nalebuff, B.J.: The right game: Use game theory to shape strategy. Harvard Business Review (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Oza, N.V.: Game theory perspectives on client - vendor relationships in offshore software outsourcing. In: EDSER (2006)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Sazawal, V., Sudan, N. (2009). Modeling Software Evolution with Game Theory. In: Wang, Q., Garousi, V., Madachy, R., Pfahl, D. (eds) Trustworthy Software Development Processes. ICSP 2009. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5543. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01680-6_32

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01680-6_32

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-01679-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-01680-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics