Identifier Name Similarities: An Exploratory Study

TL;DR

This study explores how similarities in identifier names in code affect understanding and collaboration, proposing a taxonomy to categorize these similarities and their potential impact on software development.

Contribution

It introduces an initial taxonomy for classifying identifier name similarities, aiding future research on their effects on code comprehension and maintainability.

Findings

Developed a taxonomy categorizing identifier name similarities

Preliminary analysis of name similarity occurrences in software projects

Framework for evaluating impact on developer collaboration

Abstract

Identifier names, which comprise a significant portion of the codebase, are the cornerstone of effective program comprehension. However, research has shown that poorly chosen names can significantly increase cognitive load and hinder collaboration. Even names that appear readable in isolation may lead to misunderstandings in contexts when they closely resemble other names in either structure or functionality. In this exploratory study, we present our preliminary findings on the occurrence of identifier name similarity in software projects through the development of a taxonomy that categorizes different forms of identifier name similarity. We envision our initial taxonomy providing researchers with a platform to analyze and evaluate the impact of identifier name similarity on code comprehension, maintainability, and collaboration among developers, while also allowing for further refinement and expansion of the taxonomy.