Assessing the awareness support in collaborative software development tools

Abstract

Agile methodologies and the growing geographic distribution of teams have driven significant transformations in the software development environment in recent decades. Collaborative tools have emerged as essential solutions for optimizing processes, enhancing communication, and coordinating efforts among team members. Therefore, implementing effective collaborative systems becomes crucial to guarantee project productivity, quality, and success. This study aims to evaluate the support provided by tools used in software development environments, with a particular focus on users' perspectives. We assessed some collaborative environments adopted by development teams, analyzing support for contextual collaboration and shared workspace aspects. We have noticed that an individual's ability to recognize and utilize awareness mechanisms depends on their skills and familiarity with the environment. As a contribution, this study provides a solid foundation for improving collaborative tools by highlighting strengths and weaknesses from the users’ perspective. The data obtained can guide developers in implementing features that provide greater support for awareness, thereby facilitating informed decision-making and effective coordination among team members.