Source Code Searching Survey

Question 1: Tools Used

What tools do you use to search source code? Check all that apply.

grep, fgrep, etc.
find or "File Find"
editor
e.g. vi, emacs, edit
integrated development environment
e.g. MSDS
other
  Please specify:




Question 2: Program Analysis Tools

Do you use an integrated software analysis and exploration tool?
Two examples are SNiFF+ and CIA.

Yes   No


Question 3: Development Activities Requiring Searching

How useful is it to search source code when:

Not at all useful Very useful
  doing low-level design? 1 2 3 4 5
  writing new code? 1 2 3 4 5
  testing? 1 2 3 4 5
  understanding old code? 1 2 3 4 5
  repairing bugs/defects? 1 2 3 4 5
  adding a new feature to old software? 1 2 3 4 5
  improving performance? 1 2 3 4 5
  inspecting and reviewing code? 1 2 3 4 5
  writing documentation? 1 2 3 4 5
  maintaining documentation? 1 2 3 4 5



Question 4: Typical Usage Situations

Describe one or more situations when you needed to search source code.
What did you use to find it? What were you trying to find? Why did you need to find it?




Question 5: Wish List

What types of searches would you like to be able to perform?




Question 6: Primary Responsibilities

What are your primary job responsibilities? Check all that apply.


Research
Consulting
Developing software for a customer
Maintaining software for a customer
Developing a software product
Maintaining a software product
Developing in-house software
Maintaining in-house software



Question 7: Time With Source Code Written By Others

Of your total time spent working with source code, what percentage of that time is spent working on source code written by other people?

0-20%
21-40%
41-60%
61-80%
81-100%



Question 8: Participation

Where did you hear about this survey? (Please give the name of the newsgroup or email sender.)





Question 9: Future Studies

Would you be willing to participate in future user studies of source code searching?

No
Yes
If yes, please provide your email address.
Email: