Software Visualization

CS 7390
Winter 1996
College of Computing 201
MWF 10:00-11:00


Catalogue Description:
3-0-3. Prerequisites: CS 6490 or permission of instructor
Study the use of visualization to assist program development and computer instruction. Topics include data structure display, algorithm animation, visual debugging, and program visualization.

Instructor:
John Stasko
stasko@cc.gatech.edu
253 College of Computing
894-5617
Office hours: MWF 3-4


General Information

This course will introduce students to current research in the area of Software Visualization. This will be a graduate seminar style course with an emphasis on discussion and critical evaluation of existing research, as well as speculation about possible future directions. You are expected to purchase a collection of relevant papers from the PPC/bookstore that we will use as our text. Students are expected to read the pertinent papers for each class. An approximate syllabus follows. Some changes might occur.


Grading

Your final grade will be determined by a few different components. The first will be an in-class presentation of a set of 2 or 3 papers on a specific topic. You will be judged on the quality, thoroughness, and insight of the presentation. This component is designed to give you practice in oral presentations, an extremely important component of your graduate education. You must also prepare 2 discussion questions and a 2-page summary of your papers. The second component will be 2 modest programming problems, each about 2 weeks in duration. The third component will be a final project that can be done as a team or as an individual. It will be done in the last few weeks of the quarter, and you will be able to choose your own topic. The final component will be general class participation and enthusiasm. The concrete measure of this will be submitting your questions for other folks' talks and your evaluations of their talks.

Overview of student presentations.

Data structure display programming problem

Algorithm animation programming problem

Final project

The table below summarizes these components and how each will contribute to your final grade.

Component Weight
Talk & materials 25%
2 Programming problems 40%
Final project 25%
Class participation 10%


Course Readings

Week 1

5 Jan Introduction and Set-up

Week 2

8 Jan Software Visualization Overview

10 Jan Software Visualization Overview

12 Jan Software Visualization Overview

Week 3

15 Jan HOLIDAY

17 Jan Data Structure Display 1

19 Jan Data Structure Display 2

Week 4

22 Jan Program Visualization

24 Jan Program Visualization 1

26 Jan Program Visualization 2

Week 5

29 Jan Algorithm Animation

31 Jan Algorithm Animation Systems 1

2 Feb Algorithm Animation Systems 2

Week 6

5 Feb Algorithm Animation and Hybrid Systems

7 Feb Algorithm Animation Systems 3

9 Feb Hybrid Systems

Week 7

12 Feb Program Auralization

14 Feb Use of Sound and Audio

16 Feb Empirical Analysis of SV Systems

Week 8

19 Feb Visualizing Object-Oriented and Concurrent Systems

21 Feb Visualizing Object-Oriented Programs

23 Feb Visualizing Concurrent Programs

Week 9

26 Feb 3D Program/Information Visualization

28 Feb 3D Software Visualization

1 Mar Information Visualization 1

Week 10

4 Mar Information Visualization

6 Mar Information Visualization 2

8 Mar Information Visualization 3