WHAT MAKES A GOOD PATCH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF OPEN SOURCE PROJECT PATCHES

MPhil Thesis Defence


Title: "WHAT MAKES A GOOD PATCH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF
OPEN SOURCE PROJECT PATCHES"

By

Mr. DongGyun Han


Abstract

Patch quality may affect software maintenance cost. However, there is a 
lack of understanding why patches are accepted/rejected. To provide 
empirical evidence of patch acceptance, we (1) present patch review 
criteria based on our literature survey and man- ual patch inspection, (2) 
show the result of a large scale online survey to understand the opinion 
of both patch reviewers and submitters, (3) propose patch acceptance 
prediction metrics based on the patch review criteria, and (4) show the 
deviation between develop- ers’ thoughts based on the survey results and 
the reality based on the patch acceptance prediction experimental results. 
For example, patch writer’s reputation is the most important criterion in 
our patch acceptance prediction experiment while developers regard it as a 
little important.


Date:			Monday, 21 January 2013

Time:			2:00pm – 4:00pm

Venue:			Room 3501
 			Lifts 25/26

Committee Members:	Dr. Sunghun Kim (Supervisor)
 			Prof. Shing-Chi Cheung (Chairperson)
 			Dr. Lei Chen



**** ALL are Welcome ****