Using intentional source-code views to aid software maintenance

Abstract

The conceptual structure of existing software systems is often implicit or non-existing in the source code. We propose the lightweight abstraction of intentional source-code views as a means of making these conceptual structures more explicit. Based on the experience gained with two case studies, we illustrate how intentional source-code views can simplify and improve software understanding, maintenance and evolution in various ways. We present the results as a catalog of usage scenarios in a pattern-like format.