Coming Attractions in Program Understanding
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-96-TR-019DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6572591.v1Abstract
Program understanding is the (ill-defined) deductive process of acquiring knowledge about a software artifact through analysis, abstraction, and generalization. This report identifies some of the emerging technologies in program understanding. We present technical capabilities currently under development that may be of significant benefit to practitioners within five years. Three areas of work are explored: investigating cognitive aspects, developing support mechanisms, and maturing the practice.
Cite This SEI Report
Tilley, S., & Smith, D. (1996, December 1). Coming Attractions in Program Understanding. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-96-TR-019). Retrieved June 19, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1.
@techreport{tilley_1996,
author={Tilley, Scott and Smith, Dennis},
title={Coming Attractions in Program Understanding},
month={Dec},
year={1996},
number={{CMU/SEI-96-TR-019},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
doi={10.1184/R1/6572591.v1},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-Jun-19}
}
Tilley, Scott, and Dennis Smith. "Coming Attractions in Program Understanding." (CMU/SEI-96-TR-019). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, December 1, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1.
S. Tilley, and D. Smith, "Coming Attractions in Program Understanding," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-96-TR-019, 1-Dec-1996 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1. [Accessed: 19-Jun-2026].
Tilley, Scott, and Dennis Smith. "Coming Attractions in Program Understanding." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-96-TR-019). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Dec. 1996. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Tilley, Scott; & Smith, Dennis. Coming Attractions in Program Understanding. CMU/SEI-96-TR-019. Software Engineering Institute. 1996. DOI: 10.1184/R1/6572591.v1. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1