Interactive Animation Approach for Software Evolution Analysis

This technical report presents an innovative approach to analyzing software evolution through interactive animations. The document outlines the challenges associated with understanding software systems, particularly the complexity and size of code changes tracked by commits in Version Control Systems (VCS). Traditional visualization methods often focus on high-level overviews, which can obscure the finer details of individual commits. The proposed method utilizes a custom tool that allows users to inspect and dissect commits through dynamic visualizations. This approach enhances the comprehension of software evolution by representing changes in a more engaging and interactive manner. The report includes case studies that illustrate the effectiveness of this method in providing clearer insights into the commit history. The findings suggest that interactive animations can significantly reduce cognitive load and improve understanding of software changes compared to conventional text-based diff views. The document concludes with reflections on the implications of these findings for software development practices.