A toolset to support a software maintenance process in academic environments

Software engineering and maintenance processes are designed to provide structure and organization around a set of activities involved in the production or maintenance of a software product. Understanding these processes and learning to follow them are important experiences for students in a software engineering course. But it can be difficult for both students and instructors to recognize when a process isn't being followed. Tools designed to guide a process can help. In these environments, tool support can also help ensure that students are using version control systems appropriately while fostering an environment in which students learn from their peers. The importance of tool support for agile processes has been recognized, but little such support has been designed for academic environments. "Co-Op" is a software maintenance-focused process and supporting toolset designed for use in academic environments. The toolset is implemented as a web application that focuses on change impact analysis, use of version control systems that adheres to the process, and communication amongst part-time developers.