Examinando por Autor "Vara, Juan M."

Mostrando 1 - 4 de 4

A block-based web IDE to ease the Smart Contract programming learning curve
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2024-10-28) Gómez-Macías, Cristian; Vara, Juan M.; Pérez-Blanco, Francisco Javier; Granada, David
Smart contracts, underpinned by blockchain technology, are crucial for data modification and querying in decentralized systems. Despite their potential, mainstream adoption has been limited by the complexity of programming and lack of beginner-friendly tools. To address this, we developed SmaCly , a block-based web environment that simplifies smart contract creation through visual programming and automatic Solidity code generation. This paper discusses the initial application of SmaCly in a postgraduate course, highlighting its positive impact on learning outcomes. Findings show that SmaCly ’s intuitive interface and structural templates reduce coding errors and enhance understanding of Solidity. Qualitative feedback confirms that the tool aids novice developers in mastering complex concepts and provides valuable insights for future improvements, demonstrating the effectiveness of visual programming environments in education
Analysing the cognitive effectiveness of the WebML visual notation
(2017-02-17) Granada, David; Vara, Juan M.; Brambilla, Marco; Bollati, Verónica; Marcos, Esperanza
WebML is a domain-specific language used to design complex data-intensive Web applications at a conceptual level. As WebML was devised to support design tasks, the need to define a visual notation for the language was identified from the very beginning. Each WebML element is consequently associated with a separate graphical symbol which was mainly defined with the idea of providing simple and expressive modelling artefacts rather than by adopting a rigorous scientific approach. As a result, the graphical models defined with WebML may sometimes prevent proper communication from taking place between the various stake-holders. In fact, this is a common issue for most of the existing model-based proposals that have emerged during the last few years under the umbrella of model-driven engineering. In order to illustrate this issue and foster in using a scientific basis to design, evaluate, improve and compare visual notations, this paper analyses WebML according to a set of solid principles, based on the theoretical and empirical evidence concerning the cognitive effectiveness of visual notations. As a result, we have identified a set of possible improvements, some of which have been verified by an empirical study. Furthermore, a number of findings, experiences and lessons learnt on the assessment of visual notations are presented.
Leveraging creativity in requirements elicitation within agile software development: A systematic literature review
(2019-11-01) Aldave, Ainhoa; Vara, Juan M.; Granada, David; Marcos, Esperanza
Agile approaches tend to focus solely on scoping and simplicity rather than on problem solving and discovery. This hampers the development of innovative solutions. Additionally, little has been said about how to capture and represent the real user needs. To fill this gap, some authors argue in favor of the application of “Creative thinking” for requirements elicitation within agile software development. This synergy between creativeness and agility has arisen as a new means of bringing innovation and flexibility to increasingly demanding software. The aim of the present study is therefore to employ a systematic review to investigate the state-of-the-art of those approaches that leverage creativity in requirements elicitation within Agile Software Development, as well as the benefits, limitations and strength of evidence of these approaches. The review was carried out by following the guidelines proposed by Dr. Kitchenham. The search strategy identified 1451 studies, 17 of which were eventually classified as primary studies. The selected studies contained 13 different and unique proposals. These approaches provide evidence that enhanced creativity in requirements elicitation can be successfully implemented in real software projects. We specifically observed that projects related to user interface development, such as those for mobile or web applications, are good candidates for the use of these approaches. We have also found that agile methodologies such as Scrum, Extreme Programming or methodologies based on rapid modelling are preferred when introducing creativity into requirements elicitation. Despite this being a new research field, there is a mixture of techniques, tools and processes that have already been and are currently being successfully tested in industry. Finally, we have found that, although creativity is an important ingredient with which to bring about innovation, it is not always sufficient to generate new requirements because this needs to be followed by user engagement and a specific context in which proper conditions, such as flexibility, time or resources, have to be met.
On the Impact of Project Management Certification for Software Projects and Practitioners
(IEEE, 2023-06-19) Luja Beraza, Íñigo; Vara, Juan M.; Granada, David; Gómez Macías, Cristian; Pérez Blanco, Francisco Javier
The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing literature and provide answers to long-standing questions regarding the impact of project management certifications. Specifically, the paper investigates the extent to which they contribute to project success, and the benefits they offer to those who pursue them at a significant cost in terms of time and money.