TY - GEN
T1 - The use of distributed version control systems in advanced programming courses
AU - Cochez, Michael
AU - Isomöttönen, Ville
AU - Tirronen, Ville
AU - Itkonen, Jonne
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - Version Control Systems are essential tools in software development. Educational institutions offering education to future computer scientists should embed the use of such systems in their curricula in order to prepare the student for real life situations. The use of a version control system also has several potential benefits for the teacher. The teacher might, for instance, use the tool to monitor students' progress and to give feedback efficiently. This study analyzes how students used the distributed version control system Git in advanced programming related courses.We also have data from a second year course, which enables us to compare between introductory level and master's level students.We found out that students do not use the system in an optimal way; they do not commit changes often enough and regard the version control system as file storage. They also often write commitmessages which are meaningless. Further, it seems that in group work settings there is usually one dominant user of the system.
AB - Version Control Systems are essential tools in software development. Educational institutions offering education to future computer scientists should embed the use of such systems in their curricula in order to prepare the student for real life situations. The use of a version control system also has several potential benefits for the teacher. The teacher might, for instance, use the tool to monitor students' progress and to give feedback efficiently. This study analyzes how students used the distributed version control system Git in advanced programming related courses.We also have data from a second year course, which enables us to compare between introductory level and master's level students.We found out that students do not use the system in an optimal way; they do not commit changes often enough and regard the version control system as file storage. They also often write commitmessages which are meaningless. Further, it seems that in group work settings there is usually one dominant user of the system.
KW - Git
KW - Programming education
KW - Version control system
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84923594122
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84923594122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84923594122
VL - 1000
T3 - CEUR Workshop Proceedings
SP - 221
EP - 235
BT - 9th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education, Research and Industrial Applications: Integration, Harmonization and Knowledge Transfer, ICTERI 2013
T2 - 9th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education, Research and Industrial Applications: Integration, Harmonization and Knowledge Transfer, ICTERI 2013
Y2 - 19 June 2013 through 22 June 2013
ER -