Master’s Thesis Presentation • Software Engineering • Cracking the Code: Unraveling Gender Disparities in Open-Source Contributions

Please note: This master’s thesis presentation will take place online.

Norhan Abbas, Master’s candidate
David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science

Supervisors: Professors Mei Nagappan, Diogo Barradas

In the captivating universe of open-source software (OSS) development, a puzzle of profound significance emerges: gender-related imbalances that cast a shadow over the acceptance rate of pull requests. Here, we embark on a comprehensive investigation, peeling back the layers of coding intricacies that contribute to these disparities. By curating a diverse constructed dataset comprising over 50,000 accepted pull requests from prominent Python projects, we delve into the realm of code stylometry and quality, driven by the revelation that gender-associated coding patterns are multifaceted.

Our analysis boldly contradicts conventional wisdom, spotlighting that differentiating coding habits between male and female developers isn’t a matter of code excellence alone, but also intricately linked to stylistic signatures. These findings wield the power to recalibrate perceptions, unveiling that male developers’ code is more prone to bugs and blocker issues, dissociating coding quality from gender. These findings urge the reevaluation of gender biases and assumptions within the OSS community and underscore the need for cultivating inclusive coding environments. Our research not only sheds light on the intricacies that influence pull request outcomes, but also heralds a clarion call for collective action, culminating in a set of actionable recommendations, aimed at fostering diversity and equal opportunities within the OSS ecosystem. Through this exploration, we invite the OSS community to embrace change, rewrite coding narratives, and pave the way for an equitable and innovative future.

To attend this master’s thesis presentation on Zoom, please go to https://uwaterloo.zoom.us/j/93476252031.