Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect

Abstract Currently, software projects require a significant amount of time, effort and other resources to be invested in software testing to reduce the number of code defects. However, this process decreases the efficiency of software development and leads to a significant waste of workforce and res...

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Main Authors: Hui Li, Yong Liu, Xuexin Qi, Xi Yu, Shikai Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-08-01
Series:IET Software
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1049/sfw2.12140
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author Hui Li
Yong Liu
Xuexin Qi
Xi Yu
Shikai Guo
author_facet Hui Li
Yong Liu
Xuexin Qi
Xi Yu
Shikai Guo
author_sort Hui Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Currently, software projects require a significant amount of time, effort and other resources to be invested in software testing to reduce the number of code defects. However, this process decreases the efficiency of software development and leads to a significant waste of workforce and resources. To address this challenge, researchers developed various solutions utilising deep neural networks. However, these solutions are frequently challenged by issues, such as a vast vocabulary, network training difficulties and elongated training processes resulting from the handling of redundant information. To overcome these limitations, the authors proposed a new neural network‐based model named HopFix, designed to detect software defects that may be introduced during the coding process. HopFix consists of four parts: data preprocessing, encoder, decoder and code generation components, which were used for preprocessing data, extracting information about software defects, analysing defect information, generating software patches and controlling the generation process of software patches, respectively. Experimental studies on Bug‐Fix Pairs (BFP) show that HopFix correctly fixed 47.2% (BFPsmall datasets) and 25.7% (BFPmedium datasets) of software defects.
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spelling doaj-art-c1e5eeb150f94741a7a011b6cf323b752025-08-20T03:05:04ZengWileyIET Software1751-88061751-88142023-08-0117456658110.1049/sfw2.12140Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defectHui Li0Yong Liu1Xuexin Qi2Xi Yu3Shikai Guo4The College of Information Science and Technology Dalian Maritime University Dalian ChinaThe College of Information Science and Technology Dalian Maritime University Dalian ChinaThe College of Information Science and Technology Dalian Maritime University Dalian ChinaThe College of Information Science and Technology Dalian Maritime University Dalian ChinaThe College of Information Science and Technology Dalian Maritime University Dalian ChinaAbstract Currently, software projects require a significant amount of time, effort and other resources to be invested in software testing to reduce the number of code defects. However, this process decreases the efficiency of software development and leads to a significant waste of workforce and resources. To address this challenge, researchers developed various solutions utilising deep neural networks. However, these solutions are frequently challenged by issues, such as a vast vocabulary, network training difficulties and elongated training processes resulting from the handling of redundant information. To overcome these limitations, the authors proposed a new neural network‐based model named HopFix, designed to detect software defects that may be introduced during the coding process. HopFix consists of four parts: data preprocessing, encoder, decoder and code generation components, which were used for preprocessing data, extracting information about software defects, analysing defect information, generating software patches and controlling the generation process of software patches, respectively. Experimental studies on Bug‐Fix Pairs (BFP) show that HopFix correctly fixed 47.2% (BFPsmall datasets) and 25.7% (BFPmedium datasets) of software defects.https://doi.org/10.1049/sfw2.12140crowdsourcingsoftware engineeringsoftware maintenance
spellingShingle Hui Li
Yong Liu
Xuexin Qi
Xi Yu
Shikai Guo
Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect
IET Software
crowdsourcing
software engineering
software maintenance
title Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect
title_full Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect
title_fullStr Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect
title_full_unstemmed Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect
title_short Structuring meaningful bug‐fixing patches to fix software defect
title_sort structuring meaningful bug fixing patches to fix software defect
topic crowdsourcing
software engineering
software maintenance
url https://doi.org/10.1049/sfw2.12140
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AT xiyu structuringmeaningfulbugfixingpatchestofixsoftwaredefect
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