Extracting and Visualizing Implementation Structure of Features

Feature location is an activity to identify correspondence between features in a system and program elements in source code. After a feature is located, developers need to understand implementation structure around the location from static and/or behavioral points of view. This paper proposes a semi-automatic technique both for locating features and exposing their implementation structures in source code, using a combination of dynamic analysis and two data analysis techniques, sequential pattern mining and formal concept analysis. We have implemented our technique in a supporting tool and applied it to an example of a web application. The result shows that the proposed technique is not only feasible but helpful to understand implementation of features just after they are located.