A database for an integrated software maintenance toolkit

Abstract

This paper reports on experiences with developing a database for an integrated maintenance toolchest, the AMT. Tools are incremental, focusing on effect of code changes. In a tools research environment, tools and their composition continually evolve. AMT is a good example of a complex software engineering environment for which specialized research databases have been recommended. Initially, AMT requirements pointed towards such advanced database technology. Analysis and experimentation with various options clearly showed that simple enhancements to a state-of-the-art database sufficed. Some advanced features of acclaimed research databases for software engineering environments not only did not help, they complicated matters unnecessarily.