ArCode: A Tool for Supporting Comprehension andImplementation of Architectural Concerns

TL;DR

ArCode is an IDE plugin that learns correct API usage for architectural concerns, detects deviations, and offers fix suggestions with visual aids to assist developers in implementing patterns like authentication and authorization.

Contribution

The paper introduces ArCode, a novel tool that supports architectural concern implementation and correction within IDEs, focusing on API misuse detection and recommendations.

Findings

ArCode effectively detects API misuse in Java security frameworks.

The tool provides accurate fix recommendations with visual explanations.

Developers benefit from improved understanding and implementation of architectural concerns.

Abstract

Integrated development environments (IDE) play an important role in supporting developers during program comprehension and completion. Many of these supportive features focus on low-level programming and debugging activities. Unfortunately, there is less support in understanding and implementing architectural concerns in the form of patterns, tactics and/or other concerns. In this paper we present ArCode, a tool designed as a plugin for a popular IDE, IntelliJ IDEA. ArCode is able to learn correct ways of using frameworks' API to implement architectural concerns such as Authentication and Authorization. Analyzing the programmer's code, this tool is able to find deviations from correct implementation and provide fix recommendations alongside with graphical demonstrations to better communicate the recommendations with the developers. We showcase how programmers can benefit from ArCode by providing an API misuse detection and API recommendation scenario for a famous Java framework, Java Authentication and Authorization (JAAS) security framework.