Developments in Computer Aided Software Maintenance

Abstract

Data were collected on two aspects of maintenance programming (which, according to published estimates, costs the U.S. approximately five billion dollars a year). Aspects were (1) arrangement and sources of information at graphics consoles, and (2) the value of 'conceptual groupings' to maintenance programmers using FORTRAN and PL/1. At consoles, there is a need for a better matching of problem-solving facilities with the level of abstraction or detail at which the programmer happens to be working. Scattered sources of needed information were a handicap, as was distraction and other factors. It would be possible to develop some techniques for reducing these handicaps. Pilot programs were developed to automate display of 'conceptual groupings.' In at least some cases, such programs decidedly improve maintenance efficiency. Further development and wider usage of such programs is warranted.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1974
Accession Number
ADA005827

Entities

People

  • R. K. Overton

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Data Processing
  • Debugging
  • Experimental Design
  • Information Processing
  • Maintenance
  • Motor Skills
  • Operating Systems
  • Programming Languages
  • Psychology
  • Software Development
  • Software Metrics
  • Structured Programming
  • System Software

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting
  • Systems Analysis and Design