The anatomy of an experience repository

This paper presents empirical data on the use of a software engineering experience repository in a small software organisation. The data contains information about use, usefulness and structure of the repository. Analysis of the data provides insights into how experience management can support software development in a small software organisation. The data shows that the organisation used the experience repository extensively, found the repository positively useful and realized tangible benefits from its use. The most entered and retrieved types of experience were code examples and document templates and examples, suggesting that the experience repository supported the organisation by providing a vehicle for reuse of concrete development artifacts.

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