Question 1

How does this replication package compare to other robotics datasets?

Accepted Answer

It uniquely focuses on ROS architecture practices with full methodological transparency, while datasets like RoboEarth or OpenLORIS offer broader sensor data but less emphasis on software engineering reproducibility. This package is ideal for replicating specific study findings rather than general robotics development.

Question 2

How to update the dataset with new ROS repositories?

Accepted Answer

Modify the mining scripts in dataset/repos_mining_scripts/, such as explorer.py and ghtorrent_queries.sql, to fetch current GitHub data. However, this requires Python programming and understanding of the original filtering steps, which may not be straightforward due to dependencies on outdated tools.

Question 3

Is the dataset still relevant for ROS 2 projects?

Accepted Answer

No, it's based on ROS 1 repositories from 2020, so the specific findings might not apply directly to ROS 2. The methodological approach can be adapted, but you'd need to adjust the detection scripts for ROS 2 launch files and account for architectural differences.

Question 4

What tools are needed to run the analysis scripts?

Accepted Answer

You need R for data_analysis/analysis.r, Python for the mining scripts, and access to GitHub for cloning repositories. Specific dependencies aren't listed, so you may need to troubleshoot compatibility with current versions of these tools.

Question 5

Can I use this for teaching software engineering methods?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's an excellent resource for teaching empirical research, data mining, and thematic analysis due to its comprehensive artifacts. However, the complexity might be challenging for beginners without guidance on the replication steps.

Question 6

How accurate is the manual filtering in the dataset?

Accepted Answer

The manual filtering is documented in repos_dataset_selected.csv and related PDFs, but it relies on human judgment, introducing potential subjectivity. The authors provide inclusion criteria to mitigate this, but independent verification is encouraged for critical use.

Question 7

Are there any known issues with the replication steps?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the INSTALL.md mentions potential issues with dependencies and manual interventions, such as cloning repositories or running outdated scripts. Users might encounter errors due to changes in GitHub APIs or software versions since 2020.

Guidelines

What is Guidelines?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions