Understanding and improving requirements discovery in open source software development: an initial exploration

摘要: In proprietary or closed source software (CSS) development, there is a formal requirements engineering (RE) phase for discovering the an application. The process in CSS development comprised of many practices (e.g., elicitation/generation). With advent Internet and web-based tools technologies, new different form has emerged – globally distributed, typically volunteer driven, open (OSS) development. OSS largely occurs informal, ad hoc manner often lacks developmental processes goal this research to gain better understanding current state RE OSS, identify potential directions improving empirically investigate some specific improve pursuit goal, initial survey practicing developers was conducted explore OSS. Results supported claims about informality as well pointed towards improvement. second research, experiment actual benefits from particular generation practice reuse (operationalized availability library reusable within environment) Analysis experimental data revealed that treatment (availability requirements) had significant effect on size message, quantity completeness after controlling covariates, indicating usefulness library. final focused issue gathering approaches, phase, qualitative study explored how approach, enforcing classification (versus free-form gathering), may contribute misclassification problem (erroneous issues), what can be done at interface level mitigate problem. Insights analysis shed light desirable characteristics interfaces should possess mitigating misclassification.