Roland T. Mittermeir
ABSTRACT
Research on software evolution focuses on one hand on empirical investigations studying changes in long-living software systems, on the other hand on methods and tools, how such evolutionary behaviour of software can be controlled or supported.This paper departs from the observation that the empirical work and the tool- or methods-builder's work are quite often only obliquely related. Too often, the two camps depart from a token-semantics of the word evolution. However, by ignoring the precise meanings of the words software and system, chances for misunderstandings are high. Therefore, an attempt to sharpen semantics of these three terms is made by stratifying their scope. On the basis of these sharpened definitions, some exemplary attempts for dealing with Software Evolution are mentioned..
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Index Terms
- Software evolution: let's sharpen the terminology before sharpening (out-of-scope) tools
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Reviews
Joaquin Miller
An important point is made in this paper: discussion of software evolution must consider the size (or complexity) of the software that evolves, as well as the person or organization responsible for producing and changing that software. Tools and processes for software change should be tailored to the size of the software being changed. The argument in support of that point may interest some readers. In summary: software may be "stratified" according to the information processing capability of the individual, group, or organization responsible for it. The processing capability influences the kinds of changes that can be considered. Online Computing Reviews Service
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