In this paper, we introduce ephemeral interest groups for supporting informal communication. Ephemeral interest groups are electronic discussion groups that, in contrast to bulletin boards and the like, are short-lived and ad hoc. They are designed as a medium for informal discussions of items broadcast to a wider community. We have implemented a prototype system to explore ephemeral interest groups. We discuss the goals of the system, characterize its evolution over the last ten months of deployment, and sketch our plans for future developments.

Attention is given to ICICLE (intelligent code inspection in a C language environment), an intelligent assistant that augments manual code inspection by providing a rule-based static-debugging tool, hypertext-based browsers for referring to various kinds of knowledge associated with code inspection (e.g., the application domain knowledge and the knowledge of the programming environment), a powerful human interface for preparing comments on the code under inspection, and a CSCW (computer-supported cooperative work) platform for conducting code inspection meetings. ICICLE has been prototyped on UNIX workstations using a commercial multi-paradigm expert system shell and a window package for implementing CSCW. The initial prototype has been significantly enhanced based on the feedback from extensive videotaped usability testing sessions which used a real-world application. It is currently being used for live code inspection by an initial user organization. The goals, the approach, the architecture, the main components, the usability testing, and the future directions of ICICLE are described.>

ICICLE1 (“Intelligent Code Inspection Environment in a C Language Environment”) is a multifarious software system intended to augment the process of formal code inspection. It offers assistance in a number of activities, including knowledge-based analysis and annotations of source code, and computer supported cooperative discussion and finalization of inspectors' comments during inspection meetings. This paper reports the implementation of ICICLE and GroupWare issues encountered during testing; it is directed towards an audience interested in the implementation of GroupWare as well as those concerned with usability of software systems for computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW).