ACM TRANSACTIONS ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND METHODOLOGY

Scope & Guideline

Advancing Software Engineering Through Innovative Research

Introduction

Welcome to the ACM TRANSACTIONS ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND METHODOLOGY information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of ACM TRANSACTIONS ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND METHODOLOGY, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1049-331x
PublisherASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1992 to 2024
AbbreviationACM T SOFTW ENG METH / ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1601 Broadway, 10th Floor, NEW YORK, NY 10019-7434

Aims and Scopes

The ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology (TOSEM) focuses on the intersection of software engineering practices and methodologies, emphasizing innovative approaches and tools for software development and maintenance. The journal aims to address both theoretical and practical aspects of software engineering, providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to share their findings.
  1. Software Testing and Quality Assurance:
    Research in this area includes methodologies for improving software testing processes, such as automated test generation, test case prioritization, and techniques for enhancing test coverage. The emphasis is on ensuring high software quality through rigorous testing practices.
  2. Machine Learning and AI in Software Engineering:
    The journal explores the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques in various aspects of software engineering, including automated program repair, defect prediction, and code summarization. This area highlights the integration of advanced computational techniques to improve software development practices.
  3. Security and Vulnerability Management:
    Research focused on identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities in software systems. This includes automated vulnerability detection, security testing, and the development of secure coding practices to enhance software resilience against attacks.
  4. Software Maintenance and Evolution:
    Studies here examine methods and practices for maintaining and evolving software systems, including refactoring, technical debt management, and the impact of software changes on system performance and reliability.
  5. Human Factors in Software Engineering:
    This area investigates the impact of human behavior and collaboration on software development processes. Research includes studies on developer productivity, team dynamics, and user experience design, emphasizing the human-centered aspects of software engineering.
  6. Software Development Methodologies:
    Research on various software development methodologies, including Agile, DevOps, and Model-Driven Development. This encompasses empirical studies on the effectiveness of these methodologies in real-world applications.
The ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology has witnessed the rise of several trending and emerging themes in recent years. These themes reflect the evolving landscape of software engineering, driven by technological advancements and the changing needs of the industry.
  1. Automated Testing and Program Repair:
    A significant increase in research focused on automated testing techniques and program repair methodologies can be observed. This includes the development of tools and frameworks that leverage AI and machine learning to enhance testing efficiency and accuracy.
  2. AI and Machine Learning Integration:
    There is a growing trend in integrating AI and machine learning into software engineering processes, particularly in areas like code completion, defect prediction, and software maintenance. This trend reflects the industry's push towards more intelligent and adaptive software development practices.
  3. Security and Ethical Considerations in Software Engineering:
    Emerging themes include a heightened focus on security practices, ethical implications of software development, and the need for responsible AI. As software systems grow in complexity, the importance of incorporating security and ethical considerations into the development lifecycle is increasingly recognized.
  4. User Experience and Human-Centric Design:
    Research emphasizing user experience, accessibility, and human-centered design principles is on the rise. This reflects a broader industry trend towards creating software that is not only functional but also user-friendly and inclusive.
  5. Cloud and Distributed Systems Development:
    With the rise of cloud computing and microservices architectures, there is increasing research on methodologies and tools for developing, testing, and maintaining distributed systems. This includes studies on performance optimization, fault tolerance, and service orchestration.

Declining or Waning

While the ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology continues to thrive in many areas, certain themes have shown a decline in prominence over recent years. This section highlights those waning themes, reflecting shifts in research focus within the software engineering community.
  1. Traditional Software Development Practices:
    Research focused on conventional software development methodologies, such as Waterfall or V-Model approaches, is becoming less prominent as Agile and DevOps methodologies gain traction. The shift towards more iterative and flexible approaches has diminished the relevance of traditional practices.
  2. Static Code Analysis:
    Although static code analysis remains important, there has been a noticeable decline in the volume of research dedicated solely to this area. The focus is shifting towards more dynamic and context-aware analysis methods that can handle the complexities of modern software systems.
  3. Legacy System Maintenance:
    Research on maintaining and upgrading legacy systems appears to be waning as organizations increasingly migrate to newer technologies and architectures. The urgency of addressing legacy systems is diminishing as newer frameworks and cloud solutions become more prevalent.

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