A field study of API learning obstacles

• Published in: Empirical software engineering : an international journal Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 703 - 732
• Main Authors: Robillard, Martin P., DeLine, Robert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: API; Compilers; Computer Science; Developers; Documentation; Interpreters; Learning; Obstacles; Productivity; Programmers; Programming Languages; Software Engineering/Programming and Operating Systems; Vulnerability; Programming; Software libraries; Documentation; Application programming interfaces

Large APIs can be hard to learn, and this can lead to decreased programmer productivity. But what makes APIs hard to learn? We conducted a mixed approach, multi-phased study of the obstacles faced by Microsoft developers learning a wide variety of new APIs. The study involved a combination of survey...