MetricAttitude++: Enhancing Polymetric Views with Information Retrieval

MetricAttitude is a visualization tool based on static analysis that provides a mental picture by viewing an object-oriented software by means of polymetric views. In this tool demonstration paper, we integrate an information retrieval engine in MetricAttitude and name this new version as MetricAttitude++. This new tool allows the software engineer to formulate free-form textual queries and shows results on the polymetric views. In particular, MetricAttitude++ shows on the visual representation of a subject software the elements that are more similar to that query. The navigation among elements of interest can be then driven by the polymetric views of the depicted elements and/or reformulating the query and applying customizable filters on the software view. Due to its peculiarities, MetricAttitude++ can be applicable to many kinds of software maintenance and evolution tasks (e.g., concept location and program comprehension).