Automated measurement of API usability: The API Concepts Framework |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Ulster University, Belfast, UK;2. University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;3. Pulse AI Ltd., Belfast, UK;1. Faculty of Technology Environment and Engineering, Birmingham City University, UK;2. Plant and Machinery Management, Faculty of Technology Environment and Engineering, Birmingham City University, UK;1. Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria;2. Secure Business Austria (SBA) Research gGmbH, Favoritenstraße 16, 1040 Vienna, Austria;1. Green Materials and Processes R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, 55, Jongga-ro, Ulsan 44413, Republic of Korea;2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea;3. Research and Development Center, GS Caltex Corporation, 359, Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea;1. School of Engineering and Information Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia;2. University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia |
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| Abstract: | ContextUsability is an important software quality attribute for APIs. Unfortunately, measuring it is not an easy task since many things like experienced evaluators, suitable test users, and a functional product are needed. This makes existing usability measurement methods difficult to use, especially for non-professionals.ObjectiveTo make API usability measurement easier, an automated and objective measurement method would be needed. This article proposes such a method. Since it would be impossible to find and integrate all possible factors that influence API usability in one step, the main goal is to prove the feasibility of the introduced approach, and to define an extensible framework so that additional factors can easily be defined and added later.MethodA literature review is conducted to find potential factors influencing API usability. From these factors, a selected few are investigated more closely with usability studies. The statistically evaluated results from these studies are used to define specific elements of the introduced framework. Further, the influence of the user as a critical factor for the framework’s feasibility is evaluated.ResultsThe API Concepts Framework is defined, with an extensible structure based on concepts that represent the user’s actions, measurable properties that define what influences the usability of these concepts, and learning effects that represent the influence of the user’s experience. A comparison of values calculated by the framework with user studies shows promising results.ConclusionIt is concluded that the introduced approach is feasible and provides useful results for evaluating API usability. The extensible framework easily allows to add new concepts and measurable properties in the future. |
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| Keywords: | API usability API design Complexity measures Metrics |
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