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Coming Attractions in Program Understanding

• SEI Report
By
This report identifies some of the emerging technologies in program understanding, which is the process of acquiring knowledge about a software artifact through analysis, abstraction,and generalization.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-96-TR-019
DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6572591.v1

Abstract

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.

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Tilley, S., & Smith, D. (1996, December 1). Coming Attractions in Program Understanding. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-96-TR-019). Retrieved May 15, 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},
howpublished={Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-May-15}
}

Tilley, Scott, and Dennis Smith. "Coming Attractions in Program Understanding." (CMU/SEI-96-TR-019). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, December 1, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1.

S. Tilley, and D. Smith, "Coming Attractions in Program Understanding," Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-96-TR-019, 1-Dec-1996 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1. [Accessed: 15-May-2026].

Tilley, Scott, and Dennis Smith. "Coming Attractions in Program Understanding." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-96-TR-019). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Dec. 1996. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

Tilley, Scott; & Smith, Dennis. Coming Attractions in Program Understanding. CMU/SEI-96-TR-019. Software Engineering Institute. 1996. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572591.v1

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