The Multimedia Maintenance Interface (MuMMI) system

The Multimedia Maintenance Interface (MuMMI) project concerns research into the use of multimedia and associated communications technology for the program comprehension process. Program comprehension is a time consuming process and conventionally has centred around scrutiny of the source code and any associated `formal´ textual documentation. Recent studies however have shown that a mix of information types and in particular those at a more abstract level than source code alone can significantly assist the program comprehension process. A prototype MuMMI system has been developed that enables software developers to capitalise on the different information types and to document an application in multimedia format. This has the result that when the system enters the further development or maintenance stage, understanding of its working is facilitated through the `rich´ multimedia attributes of video, audio, graphics and animation. This paper describes the aims of the MuMMI project, the requirements for and architecture of the resultant MuMMI prototype and a framework for its envisaged use