Table 1 Abbreviated survey questions and possible answers
No. | Question | Answer format | Options/suggestions |
|---|---|---|---|
Section 1: Multi-Language Software Development (MLSD) | |||
1 | Which GPLs were used in your last project? | Multiple choice | C; C++; C#; Java;...; other (free text) |
2 | Which DSL types were used in your last project? | Multiple choice | UI languages, shell languages; build languages,..., other (free text) |
3 | Was a custom language used? | Yes+free text / no | |
4 | How many of the project’s languages did developers write code in? | Scale 1-9 | Slider with 9 options from “one language” to “all languages” |
5 | Is MLSD beneficial or detrimental for these aspects | Scale 1-5 | Requirement translation, architectural design, first implementation, |
of software development? | changeability, understandability, build management, CPU performance, | ||
memory requirements, developer effort, developer motivation (Scale: | |||
5 options each from “very detrimental” to “very beneficial”) | |||
6 | Were there/will there be more/less languages in the past/future? | Scale 1-3 | Past / future with three options each: fewer, same, or more languages |
Section 2: Cross-Language Links (XLL) | |||
7 | Which links between GPLs and DSLs were used in your project? | Yes+free text / no | Free text |
8 | Which links between GPLs and GPLs were used in your project? | Yes+free text / no | Free text |
9 | Which links between DSLs and DSLs were used in your project? | Yes+free text / no | Free text |
10 | Which problems with cross-language links were encountered? | Multiple choice | Bugs due to changes; configuration issues; change avoidance; build |
complexity; understandability/communication issues; harder to write | |||
unit tests; other (free text) | |||
11 | When did problems occur, and how frequently? | Scale 1-5 | First implementation; changes due to new requirements; changes due |
to refactorings; unit testing; test phases (by dedicated personnel); | |||
user testing; after release (Scale: 5 options each from “did not occur” | |||
via “from time to time” to “all the time”) | |||
12 | Which measures were taken to prevent cross-language linking problems? | Multiple choice | Avoided MLSD; avoided XLL; avoided changes in XLL; special care |
when changing XLL; dedicated tools, dedicated tests; other (free text) | |||
Section 3: Tool Support | |||
13 | Which cross-language tool functions were available? | Multiple choice | Highlighting; error marking; navigation; refactoring; other (free text) |
14 | How important are these tool support functions? | Scale 1-5 | Highlighting; error marking; navigation; refactoring; other (free text) |
(Scale: 5 options from “very unimportant” to “very important”) | |||
Section 4: Metadata and Demographic Questions | |||
15 | How many years have you worked in professional software development? | Free text | |
16 | Which responsibilities did you have in your last project? | Single choice | Developer, tester, operations,..., other (free text) |
17 | How many software developers worked in your last project? | Free text | |
18 | How long was the development phase of your last project? (in months) | Free text | |
19 | Which software category does your last project fit? | Multiple choice | Client/Server, web applications, server only,..., other (free text) |
20 | Do you have any additional comments? | Free text | |