Dr. Jones:
A Design Explorer’s Magic Lens
Mark A. Foltz
MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab
June 19, 2002

Outline
Why diagram software?
Dr. Jones: A Diagramming Partner
Dr. Jones: Status and Challenges
Questions and Discussion

Why diagram existing software?
Understand structures and dependencies
Detect flaws and bad smells
Plan refactorings, redesign, and new features

Automated Diagramming
Good news:  You can do it automatically

Slide 5

Automated Diagramming
Good news:  You can do it automatically
Bad news:  Way too much information

Pen-and-Paper Diagramming

Pen-and-Paper Diagramming

Pen-and-Paper Diagramming

Outline
Why Diagram Software?
Dr. Jones: A Diagramming Partner
Dr. Jones: Status and Challenges
Questions and Discussion

Dr. Jones: A Diagramming Partner
The computer can be a partner in this process.
Want to create diagrams like hand-drawn ones, but dynamic.
Thesis: a three-phase interaction model.

Phase 1: Obtain a Focus Set

Phase 1: Obtain a Focus Set

Phase 2: Understand Intentions

Phase 2: Understand Intentions

Phase 3: Update Focus Set, Diagram

Dr. Jones: A Diagramming Partner

Outline
Why diagram software?
Dr. Jones: A Diagramming Partner
Dr. Jones: Status and Challenges
Questions and Discussion

Challenge 1: Redesign Vocabulary
Fowler’s refactorings
Contribution: Refactoring Verbs

Challenge 1: Redesign Vocabulary
Fowler’s refactorings
Contribution: Refactoring Verbs

Challenge 1: Redesign Vocabulary
Fowler’s refactorings
Contribution: Refactoring Verbs

Challenge 2: Focus Tracking
Where will future refactorings occur?
Contribution: A context-sensitive diagramming algorithm.

Challenge 2: Focus Tracking
Where will future refactorings occur?
Contribution: A context-sensitive diagramming algorithm.

Challenge 2: Focus Tracking
Where will future refactorings occur?
Contribution: A context-sensitive diagramming algorithm.

Challenge 3: The Crystal Ball Problem
Clear picture at the beginning …
But it begins to get cloudy.

Challenge 3: The Crystal Ball Problem
Clear picture at the beginning …
But it begins to get cloudy.

Dr. Jones: Status

Summary
Why diagram software?
Dr. Jones: A Diagramming Partner
Dr. Jones: Status and Challenges
Questions and Discussion