{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4382203557","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2023.3289808","title":"Self-Admitted Technical Debt in Ethereum Smart Contracts: A Large-Scale Exploratory Study","display_name":"Self-Admitted Technical Debt in Ethereum Smart Contracts: A Large-Scale Exploratory Study","publication_year":2023,"publication_date":"2023-06-27","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W4382203557","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2023.3289808"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1109/tse.2023.3289808","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2023.3289808","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S8351582","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","issn_l":"0098-5589","issn":["0098-5589","1939-3520","2326-3881"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320439","host_organization_name":"IEEE Computer Society","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320439","https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["IEEE Computer Society","Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5101454281","display_name":"Amir M. Ebrahimi","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I204722609","display_name":"Queen's University","ror":"https://ror.org/02y72wh86","country_code":"CA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"]}],"countries":["CA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Amir Mohammad Ebrahimi","raw_affiliation_strings":["Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL), School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0706-9820","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL), School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5054670737","display_name":"Gustavo A. Oliva","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5419-9284"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I204722609","display_name":"Queen's University","ror":"https://ror.org/02y72wh86","country_code":"CA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"]}],"countries":["CA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Gustavo A. Oliva","raw_affiliation_strings":["Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL), School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5419-9284","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL), School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5091586373","display_name":"Ahmed E. Hassan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7749-5513"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I204722609","display_name":"Queen's University","ror":"https://ror.org/02y72wh86","country_code":"CA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"]}],"countries":["CA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ahmed E. Hassan","raw_affiliation_strings":["Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL), School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7749-5513","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL), School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":1,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I204722609"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":5.3434,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":13,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.95858283,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":94,"max":98},"biblio":{"volume":"49","issue":"9","first_page":"4304","last_page":"4323"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10270","display_name":"Blockchain Technology Applications and Security","score":0.9991000294685364,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10270","display_name":"Blockchain Technology Applications and Security","score":0.9991000294685364,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10260","display_name":"Software Engineering Research","score":0.9675999879837036,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11182","display_name":"Auction Theory and Applications","score":0.9607999920845032,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1803","display_name":"Management Science and Operations Research"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/18","display_name":"Decision Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/technical-debt","display_name":"Technical debt","score":0.7942453622817993},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science","display_name":"Computer science","score":0.7546141743659973},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/workaround","display_name":"Workaround","score":0.6196638941764832},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/context","display_name":"Context (archaeology)","score":0.6068664193153381},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/code","display_name":"Code (set theory)","score":0.4895709455013275},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/implementation","display_name":"Implementation","score":0.4621468484401703},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/data-science","display_name":"Data science","score":0.3657112717628479},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/software-engineering","display_name":"Software engineering","score":0.2735711932182312},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/software-development","display_name":"Software development","score":0.18305563926696777},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/programming-language","display_name":"Programming language","score":0.16813582181930542},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/software","display_name":"Software","score":0.12115198373794556}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159198006","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1532172","display_name":"Technical debt","level":4,"score":0.7942453622817993},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.7546141743659973},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C194541083","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q457174","display_name":"Workaround","level":2,"score":0.6196638941764832},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779343474","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3109175","display_name":"Context (archaeology)","level":2,"score":0.6068664193153381},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776760102","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5139990","display_name":"Code (set theory)","level":3,"score":0.4895709455013275},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C26713055","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q245962","display_name":"Implementation","level":2,"score":0.4621468484401703},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2522767166","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2374463","display_name":"Data science","level":1,"score":0.3657112717628479},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C115903868","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80993","display_name":"Software engineering","level":1,"score":0.2735711932182312},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C529173508","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q638608","display_name":"Software development","level":3,"score":0.18305563926696777},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C199360897","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9143","display_name":"Programming language","level":1,"score":0.16813582181930542},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777904410","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7397","display_name":"Software","level":2,"score":0.12115198373794556},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C151730666","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7205","display_name":"Paleontology","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86803240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420","display_name":"Biology","level":0,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C177264268","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1514741","display_name":"Set (abstract data type)","level":2,"score":0.0}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1109/tse.2023.3289808","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2023.3289808","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S8351582","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","issn_l":"0098-5589","issn":["0098-5589","1939-3520","2326-3881"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320439","host_organization_name":"IEEE Computer Society","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320439","https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["IEEE Computer Society","Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[{"display_name":"Industry, innovation and infrastructure","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/9","score":0.5600000023841858}],"awards":[],"funders":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320334593","display_name":"Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada","ror":"https://ror.org/01h531d29"}],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":65,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1649645444","https://openalex.org/W1826514372","https://openalex.org/W2045336717","https://openalex.org/W2054717882","https://openalex.org/W2058335615","https://openalex.org/W2122824813","https://openalex.org/W2128782367","https://openalex.org/W2130602377","https://openalex.org/W2131473536","https://openalex.org/W2141951329","https://openalex.org/W2150593711","https://openalex.org/W2158997610","https://openalex.org/W2159682002","https://openalex.org/W2216905672","https://openalex.org/W2395122565","https://openalex.org/W2579161546","https://openalex.org/W2612705982","https://openalex.org/W2728950798","https://openalex.org/W2805827286","https://openalex.org/W2806073060","https://openalex.org/W2896457183","https://openalex.org/W2898582083","https://openalex.org/W2902373132","https://openalex.org/W2924886887","https://openalex.org/W2966158888","https://openalex.org/W2968409636","https://openalex.org/W2975871742","https://openalex.org/W2998305386","https://openalex.org/W3001085422","https://openalex.org/W3001458527","https://openalex.org/W3007045600","https://openalex.org/W3007313497","https://openalex.org/W3009278394","https://openalex.org/W3011992028","https://openalex.org/W3025529919","https://openalex.org/W3039165622","https://openalex.org/W3042795469","https://openalex.org/W3084421431","https://openalex.org/W3088323786","https://openalex.org/W3107676683","https://openalex.org/W3134742627","https://openalex.org/W3173946494","https://openalex.org/W3185691166","https://openalex.org/W3194369791","https://openalex.org/W3195413924","https://openalex.org/W3204160722","https://openalex.org/W3204491293","https://openalex.org/W4210729440","https://openalex.org/W4231510805","https://openalex.org/W4256548243","https://openalex.org/W4283746245","https://openalex.org/W4285794979","https://openalex.org/W4293204514","https://openalex.org/W4296338325","https://openalex.org/W4306873660","https://openalex.org/W4312536915","https://openalex.org/W4319079817","https://openalex.org/W6639619044","https://openalex.org/W6665170819","https://openalex.org/W6711940144","https://openalex.org/W6755207826","https://openalex.org/W6761771183","https://openalex.org/W6779877521","https://openalex.org/W7005609230","https://openalex.org/W7005776651"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4381612620","https://openalex.org/W2950380533","https://openalex.org/W2998499456","https://openalex.org/W2893207040","https://openalex.org/W3127868735","https://openalex.org/W1840516357","https://openalex.org/W2753986652","https://openalex.org/W4251662716","https://openalex.org/W2551499813","https://openalex.org/W4385175315"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Programmable":[0],"blockchain":[1,238],"platforms":[2],"such":[3],"as":[4],"Ethereum":[5,62,120],"offer":[6],"unique":[7],"benefits":[8,21],"to":[9,32,97,130,195,234,267],"application":[10,81],"development,":[11],"including":[12,242],"a":[13,64,161,183,213,254],"decentralized":[14],"infrastructure,":[15],"tamper-proof":[16],"transactions,":[17],"and":[18,57,77,121,125,142,145,189,222,239,245,262],"auditability.":[19],"These":[20],"enable":[22],"new":[23],"types":[24],"of":[25,39,53,70,151,165,219,237,256],"applications":[26],"that":[27,66,100,197,217,228],"can":[28],"bring":[29],"competitive":[30],"advantage":[31],"several":[33,229],"business":[34],"segments.":[35],"Nonetheless,":[36],"the":[37,48,68,105,137,148,198,206,235,272],"pressure":[38],"time-to-market":[40],"combined":[41],"with":[42],"relatively":[43],"immature":[44],"development":[45],"technologies":[46],"(e.g.,":[47,73,177],"Solidity":[49],"programming":[50],"language),":[51],"lack":[52],"high-quality":[54],"training":[55],"resources,":[56],"an":[58],"unclear":[59],"roadmap":[60],"for":[61,215,259],"creates":[63],"context":[65],"favors":[67],"introduction":[69],"technical":[71,89,98],"debt":[72,90,99],"code":[74,107,111,140,190],"hacks,":[75],"workarounds,":[76],"suboptimal":[78],"implementations)":[79],"into":[80,208],"code.":[82],"In":[83],"this":[84],"paper,":[85],"we":[86,211,252],"study":[87],"self-admitted":[88],"(SATD)":[91],"in":[92,104,128,173],"smart":[93,240],"contracts.":[94],"SATD":[95,133,143,158,170,187,216],"refers":[96],"is":[101,159],"explicitly":[102],"acknowledged":[103],"source":[106],"by":[108],"developers":[109,261],"via":[110],"comments.":[112],"We":[113,180,226],"extract":[114],"726":[115],"k":[116],"real-world":[117,166],"contracts":[118,167,176],"from":[119],"apply":[122],"both":[123],"quantitative":[124],"qualitative":[126],"methods":[127],"order":[129],"(i)":[131],"determine":[132],"prevalence,":[134,144],"(ii)":[135],"understand":[136],"relationship":[138],"between":[139,186],"cloning":[141,191],"(iii)":[146],"uncover":[147],"different":[149],"categories":[150,231],"SATD.":[152],"Our":[153],"findings":[154],"reveal":[155],"that,":[156],"while":[157],"not":[160],"widespread":[162],"phenomenon":[163],"(1.5%":[164],"contain":[168],"SATD),":[169],"does":[171],"occur":[172],"extremely":[174],"relevant":[175],"multi-million":[178],"contracts).":[179],"also":[181],"observed":[182],"strong":[184],"connection":[185],"prevalence":[188],"activities,":[192],"leading":[193],"us":[194],"conclude":[196],"former":[199],"cannot":[200],"be":[201],"reliably":[202],"studied":[203],"without":[204],"taking":[205],"latter":[207],"consideration.":[209],"Finally,":[210],"produced":[212],"taxonomy":[214],"consists":[218],"6":[220],"major":[221],"26":[223],"minor":[224,230],"categories.":[225],"note":[227],"are":[232],"bound":[233],"domain":[236],"contracts,":[241],"gas-inefficient":[243],"implementations":[244],"Solidity-induced":[246],"workarounds.":[247],"Based":[248],"on":[249,271],"our":[250],"results,":[251],"derive":[253],"set":[255],"practical":[257],"recommendations":[258],"contract":[260],"introduce":[263],"open":[264],"research":[265,270],"questions":[266],"guide":[268],"future":[269],"topic.":[273]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":4},{"year":2024,"cited_by_count":5},{"year":2023,"cited_by_count":2}],"updated_date":"2025-11-06T03:46:38.306776","created_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00"}