Enhancing the usability and learnability of software visualization techniques through task wizards and software agents

Software Visualization aims to overcome the differences between the programmer and software maintainer perspectives that lead to difficulties in producing and maintaining successful software systems. Software Visualization has been regarded as a powerful cognitive tool to support various aspects of software engineering, in particular software maintenance and program comprehension. Visualization reduces the complexity of the software system by providing higher levels of visual abstraction. Agents, task-oriented wizards and algorithmic approaches can be used to enhance the usability and learnability of software visualization techniques and provide guidance on how and when to apply these visualization techniques. This article will conclude with recommendations that are based on lessons learned from our prototype and design principles that can make software more learnable while decreasing training costs and time.