1 st WEUSE Lessons Learned Sebastian Elbaum

Motivation End-user programmers create large amounts of software in the form of spreadsheets, web authoring tools, matlab, … The software these users create is often undependable Existing software engineering techniques and tools are not directly suitable to assist them WEUSE aims at helping researchers to –understand problems faced by end-user programmers –be aware of latest developments in this area –establish connections with other researchers

What we agree on (small list) Multidisciplinary nature of research problem Interesting and valuable

Qualified Agreements on end user programmers End users are NOT like us –But in some domains… Shallow programmers –How shallow? Gray areas… Short-term view of life cycle –Difference from average programmer? They know their domain –But they may not be able to explain it

Awareness of dimensionality of small “community” Environments (web, spreadsheet, matlab, flow, …) Usage (ways and levels of interaction) Research (analytical, empirical on people, empirical on techniques, combinations) Task-phase (lifecycle tasks, activities, objectives)

Action items Characterize end user population Define “sufficient” dependability Focus on cost-effectiveness Build collage of studies for technique assessment, balance of control, cost and exposure Build community –To accelerate progress –To promote ideas and raise awareness of impact

Thank you PC members –Alan Blackwell, University of Cambridge –Margaret Burnett, Oregon State University –Jeffrey Carver, Mississippi State University –Prem Devanbu, University of California, Davis –Shriram Krishnamurthi, Brown University –Rob Miller, Massachusetts Institute of Technology –Brad Myers, Carnegie Mellon University –Orna Raz, Carnegie Mellon University Theme leaders –Margaret Burnett, Oregon State University –Mary Shaw, Carnegie Mellon University –Brad Myers, Carnegie Mellon University –Gregg Rothermel, University of Nebraska, Lincoln PARTICIPANTS!