Understanding Ajax Applications by using Trace Analysis

Title

Understanding Ajax Applications by using Trace Analysis

 Author

Matthijssen, N.A.

Contributor

Zaidman, A. (mentor)
Storey, M.A. (mentor)
Bull, I.R. (mentor)
Van Deursen, A. (mentor)

Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

 Department

Computer Science

 Date

2010-07-09

 Abstract

Ajax is an umbrella term for a set of technologies that allows web developers to create highly interactive web applications. Ajax applications are complex; they consist of multiple heterogeneous artifacts which are combined in a highly dynamic fashion. This complexity makes Ajax applications hard to understand, and thus to maintain. For this reason, we have created FireDetective, a tool that uses dynamic analysis at both the client (browser) and server side to facilitate the understanding of Ajax applications. Using an exploratory pre-experimental user study, we see that web developers encounter problems when understanding Ajax applications. We also find preliminary evidence that the FireDetective tool allows web developers to understand Ajax applications more effectively, more efficiently and with more confidence. We investigate which techniques and features contributed to this result, and use observations made during the user study to identify opportunities for future work.

 Subject

Ajax
Program understanding
Software maintenance
Reverse engineering
Empirical study
Dynamic analysis
Web applications

 To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6afeebc9-b574-453d-ac21-5682f57686bc

 Embargo date

2010-05-20

 Part of collection

Student theses

 Document type

master thesis

 Rights

(c) 2010 Matthijssen, N.A.
Files
PDF MScThesisNickMatthijssen.pdf 1.57 MB
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