CAREER:Understanding Program Comprehension for Automated Software Documentation Generation

University Of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN

Investigators

Abstract

The objective of this research project is 1) to create a model of program comprehension for how software development professionals write software documentation, and 2) to use this model to design algorithms to automate the process of writing documentation. The process of writing documentation is a major expense in software development projects, and is often neglected. By automating key components of the process, this research helps programmers to avoid this expense and therefore to be more productive. The project studies the process that programmers follow when reading source code to write documentation. Then, the project proposes algorithms to mimic that process. These algorithms are integrated with novel natural language generation systems to create descriptions of software behavior. These descriptions are then integrated into documentation of the source code. A key broader impact of this project is to increase the workforce participation of persons with visual disabilities. First, the descriptions generated by the research can be used in accessibility technologies for blind programmers, to help those programmers read source code. Second, an outreach program to state K-12 schools for the blind and visually impaired helps prepare students in these schools prepare for a career in the software development industry.