Analysis of a Code Review Tool Evolution

Abstract

In this study, the authors intend to assess the improvements of Gerrit. The central concern is “Does Rietveld evolve into Gerrit as the developers intended?” To answer this question, the authors first compare qualitative features of two code review tools. The authors then conducted an interview with a developer of Gerrit and obtained the developer's original intention of improvements in Gerrit. By analyzing mined data from code review logs, the authors try to explain the effects of improvements quantitatively. The result of analysis showed the authors that the improvements of Gerrit that the developer is expected are not observed explicitly.