Several visualization tools have been proposed to highlight interesting software evolution phenomena. These tools help practitioners to navigate large and complex software systems, and also support researchers in studying software evolution. However, little work has explored the use of sound in the context of software evolution. In this paper, we propose the use of musical interpretation to support exploration of software evolution data. In order to generate music inspired by software evolution, we use parameter-based sonification, i.e., a mapping of dataset characteristics to sound. Our approach yields musical scores that can be played synthetically or by a symphony orchestra. In designing our approach, we address three challenges: (1) the generated music must be aesthetically pleasing, (2) the generated music must accurately reflect the changes that have occurred, and (3) a small group of musicians must be able to impersonate a large development team. We assess the feasibility of our approach using historical data from Eclipse, which yields promising results.

1. Orchestrating Change
An Artistic Representation of Software Evolution
Shane
McIntosh
SOFTWARE ANALYSIS
& INTELLIGENCE LAB
Katie
Legere
Ahmed E.
Hassan
@shane_mcintosh
shanemcintosh@acm.org

2. What
does
software
sound
like?
…And it doesn’t sound awful
!2

3. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
…And it doesn’t sound awful
!2

4. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
Program
Comprehension
…And it doesn’t sound awful
!2

5. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
Program
Comprehension
When bugs sing
P.Vickers, J. L. Alty
[IWC 2002]
…And it doesn’t sound awful
!2

6. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
When bugs sing
P.Vickers, J. L. Alty
[IWC 2002]
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
Program
Comprehension
Software Visualization
with Audio Supported
Cognitive Glyphs
S. Boccuzzo and H. Gall
[ICSM 2008]
…And it doesn’t sound awful
!2

7. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
When bugs sing
P.Vickers, J. L. Alty
[IWC 2002]
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
Program
Comprehension
Software Visualization
with Audio Supported
Cognitive Glyphs
S. Boccuzzo and H. Gall
[ICSM 2008]
Sonification Design Guidelines to
Enhance Program Comprehension
K. Hussein, E. Tilevich, I. Bukvic, SB. Kim
[ICPC 2009]
…And it doesn’t sound awful
!2

8. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
When bugs sing
P.Vickers, J. L. Alty
[IWC 2002]
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
Program
Comprehension
Software Visualization
with Audio Supported
Cognitive Glyphs
S. Boccuzzo and H. Gall
[ICSM 2008]
Sonification Design Guidelines to
Enhance Program Comprehension
K. Hussein, E. Tilevich, I. Bukvic, SB. Kim
[ICPC 2009]
…And it doesn’t sound appealing?
Can software evolutionsound awful
!2

9. Sonification
What
does
software
sound
like?
When bugs sing
P.Vickers, J. L. Alty
[IWC 2002]
Taxonomy and definitions for
sonification and auditory display
T. Hermann
[ICAD 2008]
Program
Comprehension
Software Visualization
with Audio Supported
Cognitive Glyphs
S. Boccuzzo and H. Gall
[ICSM 2008]
Sonification Design Guidelines to
Enhance Program Comprehension
K. Hussein, E. Tilevich, I. Bukvic, SB. Kim
[ICPC 2009]
…And it doesn’t sound appealing?
Can software evolutionsound awful
!2

10. Why in the (world) should
we care about beauty?
!3

11. Why in the (world) should
we care about beauty?
!3

12. Why in the (world) should
we care about beauty?
Open source projects need to raise funds for
!
infrastructure and basic personnel
!3

13. Why in the (world) should
we care about beauty?
Open source projects need to raise funds for
!
infrastructure and basic personnel
$20.00
!3

14. Why in the (world) should
we care about beauty?
Open source projects need to raise funds for
!
infrastructure and basic personnel
$20.00
$5.00
!3

15. Why in the (world) should
we care about beauty?
Open source projects need to raise funds for
!
infrastructure and basic personnel
How about:
The Sounds
of Firefox
$20.00
$???
!3
$5.00

16. Why not have open!
source concerts?
!4

17. Why not have open!
source concerts?
!4

18. “Sonifying” Software Evolution:!
Three dimensions
!5

19. !5
M2
M1
Module
“Sonifying” Software Evolution:!
Three dimensions

20. M2
M1
Module
“Sonifying” Software Evolution:!
Three dimensions
T1
!5
T2 T3
Time

21. “Sonifying” Software Evolution:!
Three dimensions
M2
M1
Module
Developers
T1
!5
T2 T3
Time

22. Modules & Motifs
Module
Motif
M1
M2
!6

23. Modules & Motifs
Module
Motif
M1
M2
!6

24. Modules & Motifs
Module
Motif
M1
M2
!6

25. Modules & Motifs
Module
Motif
M1
M2
!6

26. Modules & Motifs
Module
Motif
M1
M2
!6

27. M2
M1
Module
Time Periods & Measures
T1
T2
!7

28. M2
M1
Module
Time Periods & Measures
T1
T2
!7

29. Developers & Timbre
!8

30. “Sonifying” Software Evolution!
Three dimensions
M2
M1
Module
Developers
T2 T3
Time
T1
!9

31. “Sonifying”
Software Evolution
Three challenges
M2
M1
Module
Developers
T1
!10
T2 T3
Time

32. Musicality
“Sonifying”
Software Evolution
Three challenges
M2
M1
Module
Developers
T1
!10
T2 T3
Time

33. Musicality
“Sonifying”
Software Evolution
Three challenges
Representativeness
M2
M1
Module
Developers
T1
!10
T2 T3
Time

34. Musicality
“Sonifying”
Software Evolution
Three challenges
Representativeness
M2
Cost-Effectiveness
M1
Module
Developers
T1
!10
T2 T3
Time

35. Challenge - Musicality!
Select motifs from the classical era
!11

36. Challenge - Representativeness!
Musicians select granularity and tempo
!
Tempo
Fast?
Medium-pace?
Slow?
Granularity
Commits?
Days?
Months?
!12

37. !
Challenge - Representativeness!
Consult an expert!
Musicians select granularity and tempo
!
Tempo
Fast?
Medium-pace?
Slow?
Granularity
Commits?
Days?
Months?
!12

38. Challenge - Cost-Effectiveness!
Infrequent contributors map to percussion
!13

39. Challenge - Cost-Effectiveness!
Infrequent contributors map to percussion
!13

40. Eclipse Feasibility Study
Foundational Period
Maintenance Period
May 2001 - Oct 2002
Jan 2005 - Dec 2005
261 commits
315 commits
14 committers
24 committers
9 modules
27 modules
!14

41. Eclipse Foundational Period!
Bursty Periods of Activity
!15

42. Eclipse Foundational Period!
Bursty Periods of Activity
!15

43. Eclipse Maintenance Period!
Consonance vs. Dissonance
!16

44. Eclipse Maintenance Period!
Consonance vs. Dissonance
Frequent cochange incident
!16

45. Eclipse Maintenance Period!
Consonance vs. Dissonance
Frequent cochange incident
Rare cochange incident
!16

52. @shane_mcintosh
shanemcintosh@acm.org