Blockchain-oriented Software Engineering: Challenges and New Directions (1702.05146v1)

Abstract: The Blockchain technology is reshaping finance, economy, money to the extent that its disruptive power is compared to that of the Internet and the Web in their early days. As a result, all the software development revolving around the Blockchain technology is growing at a staggering rate. In this paper, we acknowledge the need for software engineers to devise specialized tools and techniques for blockchain-oriented software development. From current challenges concerning the definition of new professional roles, demanding testing activities and novel tools for software architecture, we take a step forward by proposing new directions on the basis of a curate corpus of blockchain-oriented software repositories, detected by exploiting the information enclosed in the 2016 Moody's Blockchain Report and teh market capitalization of cryptocurrencies. Ensuring effective testing activities, enhancing collaboration in large teams, and facilitating the development of smart contracts all appear as key factors in the future of blockchain-oriented software development.

• The paper examines the emerging field of blockchain-oriented software engineering (BOSE), discussing its unique demands and advocating for novel tools and frameworks.
• Challenges include ensuring security/reliability via rigorous testing, the need for new professional roles, improving testing/collaboration, and developing specialized modeling techniques/metrics.
• Proposed research directions include comprehensive testing frameworks for smart contracts, enhanced IDEs for smart contract development, and improving community synergy.

Insights into Blockchain-oriented Software Engineering: Challenges and New Directions

The paper "Blockchain-oriented Software Engineering: Challenges and New Directions" presents a detailed examination of the emerging field of blockchain-oriented software engineering (BOSE). With the rapid proliferation of blockchain technology across various sectors, including finance and economics, it identifies the expanding demand for specialized software engineering practices. The authors discuss the intricacies of blockchain software development and advocate for the creation of novel tools and frameworks tailored to its unique demands.

Key Challenges in BOSE

The paper outlines critical challenges faced by software engineers working with blockchain technology:

1. Security and Reliability: Given the security-critical nature of blockchain applications, the paper emphasizes the necessity for rigorous testing methodologies to ensure data integrity and system reliability. Techniques such as Cleanroom Software Engineering and Software Reliability Engineered Testing are proposed to enhance the security measures intrinsic to blockchain development.
2. New Professional Roles: The integration of blockchain technology within business and finance sectors necessitates the formation of new professional roles. Individuals combining expertise in finance, law, and technology are crucial to mediate between business-centric stakeholders and IT professionals.
3. Testing and Collaboration: The increased complexity of blockchain systems demands enhanced testing suites specifically addressing smart contracts and blockchain transactions. Moreover, effective collaboration among distributed development teams is identified as a pivotal factor in ensuring high-quality software outcomes.
4. Modeling Languages and Metrics: The authors suggest developing new modeling techniques and metrics that accommodate the distinct characteristics of blockchain systems. Existing models such as UML may require significant adaptation or reinvention to represent blockchain-oriented software accurately.

Analyzing Current Blockchain Repositories

To ground their discussion of research directions, the authors conducted an exploratory paper of GitHub repositories related to blockchain software. Analyzing a curated set of repositories identified through the 2016 Moody’s Blockchain Report, the paper evaluates repository popularity, contributors' involvement, and programming language distribution:

• The paper identifies JavaScript, Python, Go, C++, and Ruby as prominent languages within the BOS context, illustrating evolving preferences in technological implementation.
• Notably, repositories like Bitcoin and Ethereum demonstrate significant collaborative involvement, showcasing the open-source community's attraction to blockchain projects.

Proposed Directions for Future Research

Building on their analysis, the paper proposes several forward-thinking research directions:

• Testing Frameworks: The development of comprehensive testing frameworks for smart contracts and blockchain transactions is crucial, particularly those which mirror the collaborative nature of large-scale open source projects.
• Enhanced IDEs for Smart Contracts: The creation of Smart Contract Development Environments (SCDEs) could streamline smart contract development, enabling a more robust and user-friendly design process optimized for blockchain applications.
• Improved Community Synergy: Strengthening the collaboration between developers to harness the open-source community effectively could lead to better software quality and evolutionary sustainability.

Implications and Future Prospects

The implications of these findings span both practical and theoretical dimensions. By addressing the highlighted challenges, the evolution of BOSE can foster more secure, efficient, and scalable blockchain systems—impacting industries reliant on transactional integrity and security. Looking forward, continued exploration into enhanced testing practices, role specialization, and collaborative modeling will be critical for the maturation of blockchain technology.

In conclusion, this paper provides a crucial academic inquiry into the state and future of blockchain-oriented software engineering, proposing essential new directions to navigate the complexities of this rapidly advancing field. As blockchain continues to intersect with various domains, a nuanced understanding and adaptation of software engineering practices will drive its potential beyond conventional technological boundaries.