Visualization of Clones

Abstract

Identifying similar code fragments, referred to as code clones, is beneficial in software re-engineering and maintenance. Various visualization techniques have been developed to present cloning information for programmers in a more useful and comprehensible manner. This chapter provides a summary of state of the art in visualizing software clones, along with a classification of visualizations according to the supported user goals, and the relevant information needs to achieve the user goals. Moreover, it further presents an assessment of clone visualizations on the basis of clone relations and clone granularity.