Voronoi treemaps for the visualization of software metrics

Abstract

In this paper we present a hierarchy-based visualization approach for software metrics using Treemaps. Contrary to existing rectangle-based Treemap layout algorithms, we introduce layouts based on arbitrary polygons that are advantageous with respect to the aspect ratio between width and height of the objects and the identification of boundaries between and within the hierarchy levels in the Treemap. The layouts are computed by the iterative relaxation of Voronoi tessellations. Additionally, we describe techniques that allow the user to investigate software metric data of complex systems by utilizing transparencies in combination with interactive zooming.

Improving Visualization of Large Hierarchical Clustering

“…Nevertheless, the TreeMaps have also two drawbacks: on the one hand, for the novice user, the hierarchical structure is quite hard to perceive and it is very difficult to distinguish among the different levels of the dendrogram; and on the other hand, the relative position of the blocks (i.e. the clusters) on the screen is not necessarily very intuitive and requires some practices, even if some studies, like those about the Voronoi TreeMaps [3] and the Jigsaw maps [36], are interesting from this point of view, since they propose a more natural topology of the clusters. While the TreeMaps offers an unmatchable density of information, they are not well adapted to our problem.…”

Efficient Retrieval and Ranking of Undesired Package Cycles in Large Software Systems.

“…Some other approaches propose to recover software structure and visualize the organization of classes and files [MM06]. To understand the complexity of large object-oriented software systems and particularly the package structure, there are some visualization tools [DGK06,DL05,BDL05,LSP05]. Package Blueprint [DPS + 07] shows the communications between packages.…”

Understanding the use of inheritance with visual patterns

“…Holten et al [10] use Treemaps with the help of bump maps and textures to display two metrics at the same time at the method level. In the same context, Balzer and Deussen [3] developed another layout technique based on the Treemap and Voronoi tessellation to display metrics associated to a color code. Similarly, Graham et al [8] exploit the solar system metaphor to display metrics of classes and packages.…”