Skip to content
Book Open access

Learning to Assess Software Quality: A Metric-Guided Peer Code Review Tool for Large-Scale Software

Jul 2026 · Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education · pp. 359-365 · 0 citations · 54 references
Computer Science

TL;DR

EvOwl includes novel features that are designed with large-scale and long-term projects in mind, such as support for using code coverage to focus students' attention on specific features within a large code base and a metric-guided approach to help students compare software quality across different implementations.

Abstract

Software engineers must be able to create software that is not only correct, but of high quality. Consequently, computer science educators must emphasize software design principles and give students timely, accurate feedback on code quality. Prior work has shown that peer code review can effectively reinforce software design principles while providing timely feedback at scale; however, most existing tools have been designed primarily for introductory courses. This paper presents the design and evaluation of EvOwl, a peer code review tool tailored to upper-level software engineering courses. EvOwl includes novel features that are designed with large-scale and long-term projects in mind, such as support for using code coverage to focus students' attention on specific features within a large code base and a metric-guided approach to help students compare software quality across different implementations.

Read PDF

Similar papers

Open access Aug 2026

Comparative Evaluation of Large Language Models in Computer Programming Education

A comparative analysis of six LLMs for generating formative feedback on introductory Java programs containing predefined defects under controlled conditions reveals substantial cross-model variation, particularly in multi-defect scenarios.

Melina Najimi, Saba Yazdani, Marzieh Ahmadzadeh · 0 citations
Open access Sep 2026

Beyond Code Correctness: A Hybrid Behavioral-Cognitive Model for Student Assessment in Programming Education

 Traditional programming assignment assessments primarily focus on evaluating the correctness of the final output, often neglecting critical aspects such as engagement, collaboration, and debugging skills. As programming education increasingly shifts toward project-based and collaborative learning, there is a growing need for more holistic evaluation methods. This paper proposes a hybrid conceptual framework that integrates cognitive correctness metrics with behavioral analytics derived from Source Code Management (SCM) systems, such as GitHub. The framework captures authentic student behaviors during assignment development and leverages machine-learning models combined with explainable AI techniques to transparently predict grades. This conceptual study advocates a paradigm shift from purely product-based assessments to a more process-oriented, learning-centered evaluation model that promotes deeper and more meaningful educational experiences in programming education.

Unknown authors · 0 citations
Review Aug 2026

CodeStylist: Supporting Early Undergraduate Programmers with Course-Aware Code Style Feedback

Findings are interpreted as evidence that course-aware style feedback is promising as a pre-submission revision aid, but that future versions should combine deterministic rule checks with LLM-generated explanations, rule citations, and stronger verification support.

Ethan Dickey, L. Vento, Peter Kurto et al. · 0 citations
Book Open access Jul 2026

Peer Code Review in Research Software: Practices, Improvements, and Implementation Challenges from Interviews of RSEs

The results show that RSEs most often improved code review by using pull requests, defining review expectations, adding lightweight process steps, and using tools and automation to reduce effort and increase consistency.

Md. Ariful Islam Malik, Jeffrey C. Carver, Nasir U. Eisty · 0 citations

We use cookies to run the site and, with your consent, for analytics and to show ads. See our Cookie Policy.