A Web-based modeling tool for the SEMAT Essence theory of Software Engineering

TL;DR

This paper introduces SematAcc, a web-based tool that implements the SEMAT Essence kernel, aiming to facilitate understanding, teaching, and adoption of the Essence theory in software engineering practice and research.

Contribution

It presents a practical web tool for implementing and experimenting with the Essence kernel, supporting its wider adoption in academia and industry.

Findings

Enables teaching and research of Essence

Supports controlled experiments and case studies

Facilitates understanding and adoption of Essence

Abstract

As opposed to more mature subjects, software engineering lacks general theories to establish its foundations as a discipline. The Essence Theory of software engineering (Essence) has been proposed by the Software Engineering Methods and Theory (SEMAT) initiative. Essence goal is to develop a theoretically sound basis for software engineering practice and its wide adoption. Essence is yet far from reaching academic and industry adoption. Reasons include a struggle to foresee its utilization potential and the lack of tools implementing it. SEMAT Accelerator (SematAcc) is a Web-positioning tool for a software engineering endeavor, which implements the SEMAT's Essence kernel. SematAcc allows using Essence, thus helping to understand it. The tool enables teaching, adopting, and researching Essence in controlled experiments and case studies.