Reusable framework for web application development

Web application (WA) is among the mainstream enterprise-level software solutions. One of the reasons for this trend was due to the presence of Web application framework (WAF) that in many ways has helped web developer to implement WA as an enterprise system. However, there are complexity issues faced by the developers when using existing WAFs as reported by the developers themselves. This study is proposed to find a solution to this particular issue by investigating generic issues that arise when developers utilize Web as a platform to deliver enterprise-level application. The investigation involves the identification of problems and challenges imposed by the architecture and technology of the Web itself, study of software engineering (SE) knowledge adaptation for WA development, determination of factors that contribute to the complexity of WAF implementation, and study of existing solutions for WA development proposed by previous works. To better understand the real issues faced by the developers, handson experiment was conducted through development testing performed on selected WAFs. A new highly reusable WAF is proposed, which is derived from the experience of developing several WAs case studies guided by the theoretical and technical knowledge previously established in the study. The proposed WAF was quantitatively and statistically evaluated in terms of its reusability and usability to gain insight into the complexity of the development approach proposed by the WAF. Reuse analysis results demonstrated that the proposed WAF has exceeded the minimum target of 75% reuse at both the component and system levels while the usability study results showed that almost all (15 out of 16) of the questionnaire items used to measure users’ attitudes towards the WAF were rated at least moderately by the respondents

Factores de mantenibilidad en el desarrollo de aplicaciones web

La mantenibilidad es un concepto que se utiliza en múltiples contextos, haciendo alusión a la cantidad de trabajo o esfuerzo necesario para que un sistema cualquiera conserve su funcionamiento frente a determinados cambios que se introduzcan o a errores que se presenten. La mantenibilidad se puede aplicar en el contexto del desarrollo de software y puntualmente en el desarrollo de aplicaciones web. Para este último, mantenibilidad se define como la facilidad o dificultad para modificar la aplicación web, ya sea a causa de un arreglo que se debe realizar o de una mejora que se desea implementar. La mantenibilidad es un atributo que tiene un impacto significativo en la calidad general de una aplicación web y, de hecho, de no ser tenida en cuenta durante el diseño y la implementación del proyecto, puede acarrear a sobrecostos durante el tiempo de vida de la misma. En este trabajo muestran los factores que impactan directamente la mantenibilidad de una aplicación, especialmente durante el proceso de implementación de la mismaAbstract: The maintainability is a concept used in multiple contexts, alluding to the amount of work or effort necessary for any system to keep its operation against certain changes introduced or errors that arise. The maintainability can be applied in the context of software development and in that way in the development of web applications. For the latter, maintainability is defined as the ease or difficulty of modifying the web application, either because of an adjustment that must be made or an improvement to be implemented. The maintainability is an attribute within a significant impact on the overall quality of a web application and, in fact, if it is not taken into account, during project design and implementation, can lead to over costs during the lifetime of the project. This document, show the factors directly influences the maintainability of an application, especially during the implementation process.Maestrí

A comparative study of maintainability of web applications on J2EE, .NET and ruby on rails

10.1109/WSE.2008.4655401Proceedings - 10th IEEE International Symposium on Web Site Evolution, WSE 200893-9

Development of a personalization model for web applications in a context of model-driven development

ABSTRACT: This dissertation develops and validates a maintainable approach to improve the modifiability of personalized web applications and to reduce the technical complexity to integrate personalization strategies in a short time in a business environment. The Software Reference Architecture to face the maintainability problem was proposed and the MAMPA framework (Model-driven Approach to enhance the Modifiability of Personalized Web Applications) was implemented

Effects of Web-Based Self-Reporting: College Students’ Self-Efficacy Regarding Fruit and Vegetable Intake

This study evaluated the effect of an online diet-tracking tool on college students’ self-efficacy regarding fruit and vegetable intake. A convenience sample of students completed online self-efficacy surveys before and after a six-week intervention in which they tracked dietary intake with an online tool. Group one (n=22 fall, n=43 spring) accessed a tracking tool without nutrition tips; group two (n=20 fall, n=33 spring) accessed the tool and weekly nutrition tips. The control group (n=36 fall, n=60 spring) had access to neither. Each semester there were significant changes in self-efficacy from pre- to post-test for men and for women when experimental groups were combined (p<0.05 for all); however, these changes were inconsistent. Qualitative data showed that participants responded well to the simplicity of the tool, the immediacy of feedback, and the customized database containing foods available on campus. Future models should improve user engagement by increasing convenience, potentially by automation

Contribution Barriers to Open Source Projects

Contribution barriers are properties of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects that may prevent newcomers from contributing. Contribution barriers can be seen as forces that oppose the motivations of newcomers. While there is extensive research on the motivation of FLOSS developers, little is known about contribution barriers. However, a steady influx of new developers is connected to the success of a FLOSS project. The first part of this thesis adds two surveys to the existing research that target contribution barriers and motivations of newcomers. The first exploratory survey provides the indications to formulate research hypotheses for the second main survey with 117 responses from newcomers in the two FLOSS projects Mozilla and GNOME. The results lead to an assessment of the importance of the identified contribution barriers and to a new model of the joining process that allows the identification of subgroups of newcomers affected by specific contribution barriers. The second part of the thesis uses the pattern concept to externalize knowledge about techniques lowering contribution barriers. This includes a complete categorization of the existing work on FLOSS patterns and the first empirical evaluation of these FLOSS patterns and their relationships. The thesis contains six FLOSS patterns that lower specific important contribution barriers identified in the surveys. Wikis are web-based systems that allow its users to modify the wiki's contents. They found on wiki principles with which they minimize contribution barriers. The last part of the thesis explores whether a wiki, whose content is usually natural text, can also be used for software development. Such a Wiki Development Environment (WikiDE) must fulfill the requirements of both an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and a wiki. The simultaneous compliance of both sets of requirements imposes special challenges. The thesis describes an adapted contribution process supported by an architecture concept that solves these challenges. Two components of a WikiDE are discussed in detail. Each of them helps to lower a contribution barrier. A Proof of Concept (PoC) realization demonstrates the feasibility of the concept