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ICSE 2021
Mon 17 May - Sat 5 June 2021

Modern code review is a common and essential practice employed in both industrial and open-source projects to improve software quality, share knowledge, and ensure conformance with coding standards. During code review, developers may inspect and discuss various changes including refactoring activities before merging code changes in the codebase. To date, code review has been extensively studied to explore its general challenges, best practices and outcomes, and socio-technical aspects. However, little is known about how refactoring activities are being reviewed, perceived, and practiced. This study aims to reveal insights into how reviewers develop a decision about accepting or rejecting a submitted refactoring request, and what makes such review challenging. We present an industrial case study with 24 professional developers at Xerox. Particularly, we study the motivations, documentation practices, challenges, verification, and implications of refactoring activities during code review. Our study delivers several important findings. Our results report the lack of a proper procedure to follow by developers when documenting their refactorings for review. Our survey with reviewers has also revealed several difficulties related to functional and non-functional aspects of the software. In light of our findings, we recommended a procedure to properly document refactoring activities, as part of our survey feedback.

Fri 28 May

Displayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change

15:05 - 16:05
4.3.3. Code Review: Readability and RefactoringSEIP - Software Engineering in Practice / Journal-First Papers at Blended Sessions Room 3 +12h
Chair(s): Francisco Servant Virginia Tech
15:05
20m
Paper
The Effectiveness of Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting Software RefactoringJournal-First
Journal-First Papers
Maurício Aniche Delft University of Technology, Erick Maziero Federal University of Lavras, Rafael S. Durelli Federal University of Lavras Lavras, Vinicius Durelli Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei
Pre-print Media Attached
15:25
20m
Paper
How Does Code Readability Change During Software Evolution?Journal-First
Journal-First Papers
Valentina Piantadosi University of Molise, Fabiana Fierro University of Molise, Simone Scalabrino University of Molise, Alexander Serebrenik Eindhoven University of Technology, Rocco Oliveto University of Molise
Link to publication DOI Pre-print Media Attached
15:45
20m
Paper
Refactoring Practices in the Context of Modern Code Review: An Industrial Case Study at XeroxSEIP
SEIP - Software Engineering in Practice
Eman Abdullah AlOmar Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, Hussein Alrubaye Xerox Corporation, Mohamed Wiem Mkaouer Rochester Institute of Technology, Ali Ouni ETS Montreal, University of Quebec, Marouane Kessentini University of Michigan
Link to publication DOI Authorizer link Pre-print Media Attached

Sat 29 May

Displayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change

03:05 - 04:05
4.3.3. Code Review: Readability and RefactoringJournal-First Papers / SEIP - Software Engineering in Practice at Blended Sessions Room 3
03:05
20m
Paper
The Effectiveness of Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting Software RefactoringJournal-First
Journal-First Papers
Maurício Aniche Delft University of Technology, Erick Maziero Federal University of Lavras, Rafael S. Durelli Federal University of Lavras Lavras, Vinicius Durelli Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei
Pre-print Media Attached
03:25
20m
Paper
How Does Code Readability Change During Software Evolution?Journal-First
Journal-First Papers
Valentina Piantadosi University of Molise, Fabiana Fierro University of Molise, Simone Scalabrino University of Molise, Alexander Serebrenik Eindhoven University of Technology, Rocco Oliveto University of Molise
Link to publication DOI Pre-print Media Attached
03:45
20m
Paper
Refactoring Practices in the Context of Modern Code Review: An Industrial Case Study at XeroxSEIP
SEIP - Software Engineering in Practice
Eman Abdullah AlOmar Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, Hussein Alrubaye Xerox Corporation, Mohamed Wiem Mkaouer Rochester Institute of Technology, Ali Ouni ETS Montreal, University of Quebec, Marouane Kessentini University of Michigan
Link to publication DOI Authorizer link Pre-print Media Attached