Investigating Factors on Information Consumption by Software Developers on Software Ecosystem Portals

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5753/isys.2024.3768

Keywords:

Software Ecosystems, Information Consumption, Engagement, Developer Experience, Transparency

Abstract

Web portals play an important role within a Software Ecosystem (SECO), as they facilitate access to information and interaction among software developers over a common technological platform. However, developers' dissatisfaction with how information is presented on the SECO portal affects their engagement within the platform, causing a migration to consume information and interact in third-party channels, harming the SECO business model. In this context, this article aims to investigate the factors associated with the information consumption forms that influence software developers' decisions about where to seek knowledge about a SECO technological platform. To do so, we conducted a survey and a field study with developers to understand their information consumption in SECO portals. Results were analyzed from quantitative and qualitative approaches. Based on the results of the 50 responses from the survey, refined and complemented with the 14 interviews from the field study, we identified four sets of categories associated with factors that influence developers on where to seek knowledge about a SECO technological platform, from either SECO portals or third-party channels. As a contribution, we made four suggestions to favor developers' engagement and transparency in information consumption and interaction within SECO portals: 1) Creation or improvement of forums; 2) Improvement of official documentation; 3) Provision of content through videos; and 4) Provision of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist searches.

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Author Biographies

Thiago de Moura Parracho, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)

Aluno de graduação do curso Bacharelado em Sistemas de Informação (BSI) pela Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), bolsista CNPq de Iniciação Científica (09/2022 - o momento) com o projeto Avaliação de Transparência de Portais de Ecossistemas de Software Utilizando Ferramentas de Análise de Experiência de Desenvolvedor e estagiário de TI na empresa Engepred. Além disso, o estudante foi bolsista de Incentivo Acadêmico (11/2017 - 07/2019) com um projeto de criação de material didático de cursos de matemática para o site do BSI. Após isso, foi bolsista do Programa de Acompanhamento de Discente de Graduação (PRADIG) com o projeto Avaliação de Portais de Ecossistemas de Software Utilizando Ferramentas de Análise de Experiência de Usuários (UX).

Rodrigo Oliveira Zacarias, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)

Doutorando em Informática pela Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UNIRIO. Mestre em Sistemas Aplicados à Engenharia e Gestão (2020) e Graduado em Sistemas de Informação (2017) pelo Instituto Federal Fluminense - IFF. Possui Especialização em Docência do Ensino Superior (2019) pelo Centro Universitário Redentor - UniRedentor. Atua como Analista de Tecnologia da Informação na Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF. Possui interesse nos seguintes temas: Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas, Engenharia de Requisitos, Ecossistemas de Software, Experiência de Usuário/Desenvolvedor e Programação Orientada a Objetos.

Marcos César da Rocha Seruffo, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)

Marcos César da Rocha Seruffo has graduation in Data Processing Technology by University Center of the State of Para (CESUPA ? 2004), is specialist in Computer Systems Technical Support by Federal University of Para (UFPA ? 2005), Master in Computer Science (PPGCC ? UFPA ? 2008) and Doctor in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Applied Computing (PPGEE ? UFPA ? 2012) and Post Doctorate at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, in the Postgraduate Program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEE - PUC-RJ - 2020). Currently I am Associate Professor level I of Federal University of Pará. I am Professor of Anthropic Studies in the Amazon Graduate Program (PPGEAA) and Electrical Engineering Graduate Program (PPGEE). I was Principal of the School of Computing from Castanhal Campus (2013-2015). I was Principal of Faculty of Computer Engineering and Telecommunications - Institute of Technology (2017-2019). I was vice-coodinator of Postgraduate Program in Anthropic Studies in the Amazon (2017-2019). I am researcher from Operational Research Laboratory (LPO). I am a project evaluator in several national funding agencies. I coordinate and participate in teaching, research and extension activities through national and international projects in interdisciplinary areas, among them: Social Technologies, User Experience, Data Mining, Computer Networks, Informatics in Education, Social Network Analysis, Anthropic Studies, and Natural Language Processing. I am Productivity Scholarship in Technological Development and Innovative Extension - DT - Level 2 from CNPq.

Rodrigo Pereira dos Santos, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)

Professor Adjunto do Departamento de Informática Aplicada e membro efetivo do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Informática da Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO). Lidera o Grupo de Pesquisa em Engenharia de Sistemas Complexos da UNIRIO Doutor e Mestre em Engenharia de Sistemas e Computação pela COPPE/UFRJ, onde realizou também o seu Pós-doutorado, e Bacharel em Ciência da Computação pela UFLA. Atuou como pesquisador visitante na University College London. Seus principais campos de atuação são Engenharia de Sistemas Complexos (ecossistemas de software e sistemas-de-sistemas) e Educação em Engenharia de Software. Contato: rps@uniriotec.br

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Published

2024-04-29

How to Cite

de Moura Parracho, T., Oliveira Zacarias, R., da Rocha Seruffo, M. C., & Pereira dos Santos, R. (2024). Investigating Factors on Information Consumption by Software Developers on Software Ecosystem Portals. ISys - Brazilian Journal of Information Systems, 17(1), 3:1 – 3:46. https://doi.org/10.5753/isys.2024.3768

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Extended versions of selected articles

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Copyright (c) 2024 iSys - Brazilian Journal of Information Systems

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