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https://doi.org/10.1109/wpc.20...
Article . 2005 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
DBLP
Conference object . 2023
Data sources: DBLP
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Adding Control-Flow to a Visual Data-Flow Representation

Authors: David Dearman; Anthony Cox; Maryanne Fisher;

Adding Control-Flow to a Visual Data-Flow Representation

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that novices do not tend to extract or use data-flow information during program comprehension. However, for impact analysis and similar tasks, data-flow information is necessary and highly relevant. Visual data-flow programming languages, such as Prograph/CPX, have been commercially successful, suggesting that they provide effective data-flow representations. To explore data-flow representations for program comprehension, we augment Prograph data-flow programs with control-flow features to determine the effects on comprehension. We hypothesize that combined control/data-flow representations will aide comprehension better than data-flow alone. To validate this hypothesis, we present the results of an experiment comparing three combined representations against a data-flow only representation. While the addition of control-flow was found to be beneficial, the complexity of the representations plays an important role. Complex and highly detailed control-flow, although perceived as useful, is less effective when combined with data-flow, than less detailed and less complex control-flow descriptions. This finding suggests a tradeoff exists between a representation's content and complexity. We found a nested representation describing inter-method control-flow to be the most effective for supporting program comprehension.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
8
Average
Average
Average