Analyse the Readability of LINQ Code using an Eye-Tracking-based Evaluation
József Katona
Abstract
Nowadays, in addition to traditional procedures, the use of eye movement tracking systems can be an alternative possibility, to analyse the effectiveness of different programming technologies. Tracking the gaze route by analysing eye movement parameters also allows the study of a complex cognitive process. In this research an eyetracking system is presented besides the traditional knowledge level test to analyse the readability of the two semantically identical but syntactically different options of the Language-Integrated-Query (LINQ) abstraction layer, the query and the method syntax. Each query operator and extension method were compared besides the complete query expressions in different syntaxes. The observed and recorded results are evaluated with descriptive statistics. Based on the obtained results, it can be stated that the application of eye movement tracking systems, in the study of complex cognitive processes, such as, programming, is well applicable and can also provide additional information for teachers, developers or researchers concerning adequate syntax, to present or write more efficient, maintainable and further developable source code.