Software visualisation using C++ lenses

C++ Lens is an innovative visualisation technique and associated tool, that assists maintainers to comprehend C++ source code. The primary role of the C++ Lens technique and tool is to visualise the interface relationships existing between C++ classes and to signify the importance of these relationships. The technique innovatively combines, via the definition of lenses, elements of reverse engineering, code browsing, visualisation, and metrics gathering into a coherent framework for code comprehension. The paper describes the basis of the technique and presents some results of applying the C++ Lens technique and tool to large scale commercial software.