Tools to Support Global Software Development Processes: A Survey

Abstract

The current challenges in Global Software Development (GSD) necessitate support from software tools with special features. In this work, we explain which features are desirable for these tools in the context of GSD and how these features are related to the principal challenges in this environment. We shall therefore present a survey of the tools that provide these features. The tools included in the survey were classified through the use of the ISO/IEC 12207 standard processes to determine which process is supported by each tool. A classification of the tools according to their features is also included, in which the specific features of each tool are shown.