A comparative overview on Blockchain-based applications for Software Engineering

Abstract

In less than a decade, blockchain technology has seen a rise in popularity due to its innate security properties and overall disruptive potential. Surpassing its initial use in fintech and cryptocurrencies, blockchain and similar distributed ledger technologies have been used in healthcare, supply chain management, and within the public sector. However, recent studies show that blockchain-based technologies have found uses in software engineering (SE) as well. Namely, blockchain technologies can be used in all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle - software requirements, the engineering/development process, software testing and quality assurance, as well as software maintenance. In this paper, by utilizing existing literature regarding blokchain technologies and SE, we provide insight on which type of blockchain technology could be beneficial for each of the use-cases in SE, highlighting the advantages and potential disadvantages. We discuss various consensus mechanism support, smart contracts technology, as well as storage solutions, tu finally give recommendations for identified use-cases.