Recording finer-grained software evolution with IDE: an annotation-based approach

This paper proposes a formalized technique for generating finer-grained source code deltas according to a developer's editing intentions. Using the technique, the developer classifies edit operations of source code by annotating the time series of the edit history with the switching information of their editing intentions. Based on the classification, the history is sorted and converted automatically to appropriate source code deltas to be committed separately to a version repository. This paper also presents algorithms for automating the generation process and a prototyping tool to implement them.