Runtime Verification of Self-Adaptive Systems with Changing Requirements

To accurately make adaptation decisions, a self-adaptive system needs precise means to analyze itself at runtime. To this end, runtime verification can be used in the feedback loop to check that the managed system satisfies its requirements formalized as temporal-logic properties. These requirements, however, may change due to system evolution or uncertainty in the environment, managed system, and requirements themselves. Thus, the properties under investigation by the runtime verification have to be dynamically adapted to represent the changing requirements while preserving the knowledge about requirements satisfaction gathered thus far, all with minimal latency. To address this need, we present a runtime verification approach for self-adaptive systems with changing requirements. Our approach uses property specification patterns to automatically obtain automata with precise semantics that are the basis for runtime verification. The automata can be safely adapted during runtime verification while preserving intermediate verification results to seamlessly reflect requirement changes and enable continuous verification. We evaluate our approach on an Arduino prototype of the Body Sensor Network and the Timescales benchmark. Results show that our approach is over five times faster than the typical approach of redeploying and restarting runtime monitors to reflect requirements changes, while improving the system's trustworthiness by avoiding interruptions of verification.Comment: 18th Symposium on Software Engineering for Adaptive and Self-Managing Systems (SEAMS 2023

A systematic review of software development cost estimation studies

This paper aims to provide a basis for the improvement of software estimation research through a systematic review of previous work. The review identifies 304 software cost estimation papers in 76 journals and classifies the papers according to research topic, estimation approach, research approach, study context and data set. A web-based library of these cost estimation papers is provided to ease the identification of relevant estimation research results. The review results combined with other knowledge provide support for recommendations for future software cost estimation research, including: 1) Increase the breadth of the search for relevant studies, 2) Search manually for relevant papers within a carefully selected set of journals when completeness is essential, 3) Conduct more studies on estimation methods commonly used by the software industry, and, 4) Increase the awareness of how properties of the data sets impact the results when evaluating estimation methods

SCRUM-PSP: Embracing Process Agility and Discipline

Abstract—With the research and debates on software process, the mainstream software processes can be grouped into two categories, the plan-driven (disciplined) processes and the agile processes. In terms of the classification, personal software process (PSP) is a typical plan-driven process while SCRUM is an agile-style instance. Although they are distinct from each other per se, our research found that PSP and SCRUM may also complement each other when SCRUM provides an agile process management framework, and PSP provides the skills and disciplines that a qualified team member needs to estimate, plan and manage his/her job. This paper proposes an integrated process model, SCRUM-PSP, which combines the strengths of each. We also verified that this integrated process by adopting it into a real project environment where typical agile processes are favored, i.e. change-prone requirements, rapid development, fast delivery, etc. As a result, manageability and predictability which traditional plan-driven processes usually benefit can also be achieved. The work described in this paper is a worthy attempt to embrace both process agility and discipline. Keywords- PSP SCRUM Integratio

Quality model for software development pymes located in the valle de Aburrá metropolitan area

Modelo de calidad para pymes desarrolladoras de software ubicadas en el área metropolitana del valle de AburráMediante este artículo se desea mostrar el proyecto de investigación (Modelo de Calidad para PYMES Desarrolladoras de Software ubicadas en el Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburra) se presenta un Modelo de Calidad que busca servir de apoyo a las Pymes desarrolladoras de software del Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburra. Para su creación se realizó un análisis de modelos importantes como: MoProSoft, TST/PSP, Mosca, CMI, CMMI, de los cuales se toman como base las mejores prácticas. De igual manera se analiza conceptos importantes como Modelos de Calidad, Gestión de Procesos, Metodologías de Desarrollo, Gestión de proyectos. Este modelo de calidad busca servir de base a las pequeñas empresas, creando apoyo a los equipos desarrolladores de software mejorando su rendimiento y efectividad en la elaboración de los proyectos.AbstractThe purpose of this article is to showcase a research project (Quality Model for Software Development Pymes Located in the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area), and to present the resulting Quality Model, intended to support PYMES that develop software and are located in the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area. Many important models were analyzed for its development, such as MoProSoft, TST/PSP, Mosca, CMI, CMMI, from which the best practices were extracted. Additionally, important concepts were taken into account, such as Quality Models, Process Management, Development Processes, and Project Management. This quality model aims serve as a basis for small companies by supporting their software development teams, improving their performance and effectiveness in project elaboration.Keywords: Software, Software Development Process, Quality Models, Software Qualit

Systematic literatura review of PSP adaptations

In this report we present a systematic review of existing literature about PSP adaptations. In particular, we are interested in getting to know those adaptations that propose to incorporate the use of Formal Methods. Section 1 presents general concepts about systematic reviews. Section 2 presents the specific systematic review carried out. iv

Sustainability-focused international PBL project:Rethinking digital education for individuals of low socioeconomic status

Providing access to education for individuals of lower socio-economic status is a significant way to reduce poverty, as it empowers them to grow as professionals and as individuals. Although there is an increasing sense of urgency to promote these changes, notably motivated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN 2030 Agenda, there are still few successful ways to solve this problem on a large-scale. As digital technology develops and affordability increases, new ways to share quality educational content are created. In an exploratory case study, with a qualitative approach, this paper presents the development of a digital application focused on providing quality educational content directed to vulnerable groups that lack access to formal learning experiences, specifically focused on waste pickers in Brasilia, Brazil. The main data collection methods used to make the decisions through the development process were observation, surveys, and interviews. Within the framework of Problem Based Learning (PBL) an international cross-disciplinary collaboration among different universities, the project, denominated “Mobile Education”, involved: (i) the design and implementation of a system consisting of both a web and mobile application; (ii) the research of a viable business model to provide long-term sustainability for the project; (iii) and the creation of a pilot course of financial education for the preliminary target group, i.e., waste pickers from Brasilia, Brazil. Conclusively, the project aims to positively impact social transformation for individuals who work at the Waste Sorting facilities and lack financial knowledge. The Mobile Education project resulted in a functional version of the app (Web and Mobile) as well as the delimitation of a viable business model to keep it providing digital equality in Brazilian education

Incentive Mechanisms for Participatory Sensing: Survey and Research Challenges

Participatory sensing is a powerful paradigm which takes advantage of smartphones to collect and analyze data beyond the scale of what was previously possible. Given that participatory sensing systems rely completely on the users' willingness to submit up-to-date and accurate information, it is paramount to effectively incentivize users' active and reliable participation. In this paper, we survey existing literature on incentive mechanisms for participatory sensing systems. In particular, we present a taxonomy of existing incentive mechanisms for participatory sensing systems, which are subsequently discussed in depth by comparing and contrasting different approaches. Finally, we discuss an agenda of open research challenges in incentivizing users in participatory sensing.Comment: Updated version, 4/25/201

PSP vdc: propuesta de adaptación del proceso de software personal para incorporar dise

Este trabajo presenta una solución para la aplicación simultánea de un subconjunto de reglas contextuales (un formalismo de reescritura para el análisis y etiquetado de segmentos de texto), basada en técnicas de estado finito. Esta solución implica la definición de un nuevo tipo de autómatas finitos, los transductores sobre estructuras atributo-valor y el álgebra de expresiones regulares asociada a ellos. La aplicación de las reglas sobre un texto de entrada se modela como una cascada de reemplazos basados en segmentos del texto y el contexto en que aparecen

A qualitative evidence synthesis of refugee patients’ and professionals’ perspectives on mental health support

To generate a more comprehensive understanding of mental health support for refugees, a qualitative evidence synthesis of studies examining professionals’ and patients’ perspectives was conducted. The aim was to identify what refugees and psycho-social professionals working with refugees perceived as positive/helpful and negative/hindering in the therapeutic process.Six electronic databases were searched, followed by citation tracking. Of the 711 studies found, 10 studies were selected for a thematic synthesis based on inclusion criteria such as being qualitative research reports published after 1998. From these studies, referring to 145 insider perspectives, descriptive themes were developed and subsequently synthesised into 13 analytical clusters. The results highlight the importance of a trusting therapeutic relationship, of the adaptation of therapeutic approaches to patients’ needs and situation and of psycho-social support, and of cultural sensitivity and external support structures for professionals. Negative or hindering aspects were identified as a lack of mental health care structures, the impact of the post-migrational situation of patients’ well-being, cultural and language differences, and a context of mistrust and negative experiences. Finally, ambivalences were formulated regarding verbal therapies, trauma exposure, the use of mental health care, and the impacts of this work on professionals. Results are discussed in relation to flexible therapeutic boundaries. Suggestions are made for practice, such as using integrative approaches that focus on psychoeducation and transparency, and for future research, such as investigating psychotherapy with refugees in non-Western countries