| This thesis addresses problems associated with classification and evaluation of software visualization tools. It begins with a discussion surrounding the need to perform these types of tasks. Several issues that exist with classification and evaluation are presented. To address these issues, a new taxonomy of software visualization tools is proposed. This taxonomy takes into account current and emerging technologies related to software visualization. It provides a framework by which to categorize software visualization tools into four major categories: Scope, Data, Representation, and Interaction.; The need for formal evaluation of software visualization tools is discussed. A usability study conducted against a software visualization tool, sv3D, is presented. The design, procedure, results, and conclusions are detailed. The importance of this study as it relates to software visualization tool evaluation in general is discussed. |
