Towards a Better Understanding of Code Navigation Challenges

Towards a Better Understanding of Code Navigation Challenges Faced by Developers with Visual Impairments: Requirements Elicitation Study 1 Albusays , Motivations Khaled L. Matt Stephanie 1 Computing & Information Sciences Ph. D. Program, 1 Department of Information Sciences & Technologies, 2 Department of Computer Science 1 Rochester Institute of Technology, 2 University of North Texas Research Problem Results 2 Ludi RQ 1 • Few empirical studies exclusively focused on defining code navigation challenges. • To fill gaps in the research needed to address the difficulties. • To better understand the problem domain as well as the user needs. • To collect user requirements in order to help us define code navigation system features. Navigation Difficulties Line by Line Indentation Debugging Line Numbers Nesting Characters Errors Scope Relationship Elements Track Back Autocomplete Identifiers li d ons i u t B ca li p Ap Syntax Highlighting In de nt at io n Visual Presentation of IDE Goals • To understand software development challenges and workarounds. • To understand the types of assistive technologies, programming tools and languages used by blind developers. • To investigate code navigation difficulties and workarounds. • To investigate existing, tool based navigation solutions. • To determine user needs and system features for a proposed solutions. 1 Huenerfauth , RQ 2 Tools Assistive Technologies 2 1 IDEs Computer Display’s & Assistive Technologies 1 3 2 Target Platforms 4 Line Numbers Line by Line Screen Reader Braille Display Notepad Xcode Eclipse Visual Studio Windows Android i. OS RQ 3 Research Questions Traditional Code Navigation Options RQ 1 - What are the difficulties faced by blind developers when navigating through software code? Methodology RQ 2 - What tools do blind developers use when programming that include the task of code navigation? RQ 3 - How do blind developers use workarounds to overcome code navigation challenges? Workarounds Notepad Comments Shortcut Keys Custom Scripts API Documentation Sighted Assistance Screen Reader & Braille Display (together) Recruit Participants User Needs User Study Interview Design Interviews Questions Classificati on 2 8 Analyze Results • • • Hierarchical Tree Navigation Scope & Nesting Level Indicator Dynamic Code Tags Classes Relationships Auditory Feedback