An Empirical Evaluation of an Activity-Based Infrastructure for Supporting Cooperation in Software Engineering

[Background] Software Engineering (SE) is predominantly a team effort that needs close cooperation among several people who may be geographically distributed. It has been recognized that appropriate tool support is a prerequisite to improve cooperation within SE teams. In an effort to contribute to this line of research, we have designed and developed an infrastructure, called ABC4GSD, based on the models of Activity Theory (AT) and the principles of the Activity-Based Computing (ABC) paradigm. [Aim] In this paper, we present a study that empirically evaluates the ability of ABC4GSD in supporting teams cooperation. [Method] We designed and executed a study based on a scenario that simulated the Follow-The-Sun (FTS) strategy of Global SE (GSE). Our research design allowed us to ensure cooperation to be both computer-mediated as well as contained within observable short time-windows-the hand-off activities of the FTS strategy. [Results] Overall, the results show that the cooperation support provided by the ABC4GSD system has been positively perceived by the participants. Nonetheless, open issues stimulating further investigations have been raised especially due to a few mixed results. [Conclusions] Aware of the limitations of the simulated scenario, we conclude that the approach followed by the ABC4GSD system based on activities is desirable to improve the cooperation support in SE. Finally, our research approach based on simulating a scenario with geographical and temporal distribution can providePaolo Tell, Muhammad Ali Baba

Activity-Centric Computing Systems

• Activity-Centric Computing (ACC) addresses deep-rooted information management problems in traditional application centric computing by providing a unifying computational model for human goal-oriented ‘activity,’ cutting across system boundaries. • We provide a historical review of the motivation for and development of ACC systems, and highlight the need for broadening up this research topic to also include low-level system research and development. • ACC concepts and technology relate to many facets of computing; they are relevant for researchers working on new computing models and operating systems, as well as for application designers seeking to incorporate these technologies in domain-specific applications

Live Is Life: Teaching Software Engineering on Live Systems

In this article, we present the course “DevOps,Software Evolution, and Software Maintenance”that we developed and teach at IT University ofCopenhagen. It differs from similar courses in thatit focuses student project work on maintenanceand evolution of a live software system