Abstract

Abstract
Mutation testing maybe used to guide test case generation and as a technique to assess the quality of test suites. Despite being used frequently, mutation testing is not so commonly applied in the mobile world. One critical challenge in mutation testing is dealing with its computational cost. Generating mutants, running test cases over each mutant, and analyzing the results may require significant time and resources. This research aims to contribute to reducing Android mutation testing costs. It implements mutation testing operators (traditional and Android-specific) according to mutant schemata (implementing multiple mutants into a single code file). It also describes an Android mutation testing framework developed to execute test cases and determine mutation scores. Additional mutation operators can be implemented in JavaScript and easily integrated into the framework. The overall approach is validated through case studies showing that mutant schemata have advantages over the traditional mutation strategy (one file per mutant). The results show mutant schemata overcome traditional mutation in all evaluated aspects with no additional cost: it takes 8.50% less time for mutant generation, requires 99.78% less disk space, and runs, on average, 6.45% faster than traditional mutation. Moreover, considering sustainability metrics, mutant schemata have 8,18% less carbon footprint than traditional strategy.

Abstract
Context: Testing activities are essential for the quality assurance of mobile applications under development. Despite its importance, some studies show that testing is not widely applied in mobile applications. Some characteristics of mobile devices and a varied market of mobile devices with different operating system versions lead to a highly fragmented mobile ecosystem. Thus, researchers put some effort into proposing different solutions to optimize mobile application testing. Objective: The main goal of this paper is to provide a categorization and classification of existing testing infrastructures to support mobile application testing. Methods: To this aim, the study provides a Systematic Mapping Study of 27 existing primary studies. Results: We present a new classification and categorization of existing types of testing infrastructure, the types of supported devices and operating systems, whether the testing infrastructure is available for usage or experimentation, and supported testing types and applications. Conclusion: Our findings show a need for mobile testing infrastructures that support multiple phases of the testing process. Moreover, we showed a need for testing infrastructure for context-aware applications and support for both emulators and real devices. Finally, we pinpoint the need to make the research available to the community whenever possible.

Abstract
Platforms to support novices learning to program are often accompanied by automated next-step hints that guide them towards correct solutions. Many of those approaches are data-driven, building on historical data to generate higher quality hints. Formal specifications are increasingly relevant in software engineering activities, but very little support exists to help novices while learning. Alloy is a formal specification language often used in courses on formal software development methods, and a platform-Alloy4Fun-has been proposed to support autonomous learning. While non-data-driven specification repair techniques have been proposed for Alloy that could be leveraged to generate next-step hints, no data-driven hint generation approach has been proposed so far. This paper presents the first data-driven hint generation technique for Alloy and its implementation as an extension to Alloy4Fun, being based on the data collected by that platform. This historical data is processed into graphs that capture past students' progress while solving specification challenges. Hint generation can be customized with policies that take into consideration diverse factors, such as the popularity of paths in those graphs successfully traversed by previous students. Our evaluation shows that the performance of this new technique is competitive with non-data-driven repair techniques. To assess the quality of the hints, and help select the most appropriate hint generation policy, we conducted a survey with experienced Alloy instructors.

Abstract
In recent years, educators have observed a significant decline in student engagement, particularly in subjects involving demanding content. This lack of interest has resulted in high absenteeism rates and a general struggle to absorb the presented material. Students are increasingly exposed to external distractions, leading to a lack of concentration and motivation. In some cases, students seek refuge in online games during classes. To address these issues, this paper conducts a comprehensive and in-depth review of the use of Game-Based Learning (GBL) and Gamification in education, with a specific focus on higher education. In this investigation, our objective is to foster a more interactive learning environment and, ultimately, enhance the overall educational experience, inspiring educators to create a dynamic learning environment that captivates students and renews their enthusiasm for academic pursuits.

Abstract
The hypercube is a novel viewport management and information visualization system that introduces three conceptual applications (called WorkScenes), focusing on interaction, reading, and visualization concepts. Thus, we first published the conceptual description, interaction metaphors, and the prototype in HyperCube4x: a viewport management system proposal. This article introduces HyperBook, a virtual reality-based application that aims to make e-books, infographics, storytelling, and other reading-related initiatives more attractive, by proposing the following concepts: (1) depth and surface, (2) cutting a document into pages, and (3) virtual screen enlargement. Then, we demonstrate how these features (1) integrate with virtual reality environments' attributes such as flow, presence, and immersion, (2) fit Shneiderman's visual-information-seeking mantra, and (3) solve the Egyptian scroll effect of desktop metaphor-based reading. Finally, we present the acceptability and usability study results with 31 participants who scored HyperBook at 76.29 on the System Usability Scale.