Software Architecture Visualization: An Evaluation Framework and Its Application

Gallagher, Keith; Hatch, Andrew; Munro, Malcolm

Abstract

In order to characterize and improve software architecture visualization practice, the paper derives and constructs a qualitative framework, with 7 key areas and 31 features, for the assessment of software architecture visualization tools. The framework is derived by the application of the Goal Question Metric paradigm to information obtained from a literature survey and addresses a number of stakeholder issues. The evaluation is performed from multiple stakeholder perspectives and in various architectural contexts. Stakeholders can apply the framework to determine if a particular software architecture visualization tool is appropriate to a given task. The framework is applied in the evaluation of a collection of six software architecture visualization tools. The framework may also be used as a design template for a comprehensive software architecture visualization tool.

Citation

Gallagher, K., Hatch, A., & Munro, M. (2008). Software Architecture Visualization: An Evaluation Framework and Its Application. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 34(2), 260-270. https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2007.70757

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Oct 17, 2007
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Oct 8, 2008
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 8, 2008
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
• Print ISSN: 0098-5589
• Electronic ISSN: 1939-3520
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 260-270
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2007.70757
• Keywords: Software Architectures, Visualization techniques, Methodologies.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1533816