Metaphors for Software Visualization Systems Based on Virtual Reality

摘要

The paper discusses research and development in the field of software visualization based on virtual reality environments. Spatial metaphors play an important role in such systems. A brief overview of the projects of software visualization systems based on vir- tual reality is provided. Among the systems developed over the past decades, one can find systems both for program visualization and for visual programming. Descriptions of prototypes of software visualization systems, software objects visualization and supercomputer performance data visualization, realized by the authors of the paper, are presented. These prototypes, designed for virtual reality environments, were developed with the use of several versions of a cosmic space metaphor and an extended city metaphor. The paper also discusses psychological aspects of the human factor in developing software visualization systems with the use of virtual reality.