Sebastian Nielebock
Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Nielebock
AG System and Software Engineering
I’ve studied Computer Systems in Engineering (dt. Ingenieurinformatik) at the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg in the bachelor's as well as in the master's degree course. Since October 2013, I have been a member of the Chair of Software Engineering. In October 2025, I obtained my doctoral degree at the Otto-von-Guericke University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Frank Ortmeier on the topic of "API Misuses - A Journey Along Their Causes and Prevention to Automated Techniques for Detection and Repair".
My research interests are in the domain of automated software engineering, especially automatic detection of software defects within source code and their automatic repair. In particular, I’m investigating automatic program repair methods for API-specific bugs (i.e., API Misuses). For more information, please refer to the research domain of API-Specific Automatic Program Repair (ASAP-Repair). I am also active in the domain of research software engineering, namely, on how to support researchers in developing their own software artifacts for their research purposes.
If you are a student and interested in doing your bachelor's or master's thesis in Automatic Program Repair (APR), automated software engineering, or research software engineering, check out our currently published topics or write me an email explaining why you are interested in these topics and which skills you have gained to successfully work in this area. I won’t reply to generic e-mails, which do not explain these things in particular.
2025
Dissertation
API Misuses - a journey along their causes and prevention to automated techniques for detection and repair
Nielebock, Sebastian; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Magdeburg: Universitätsbibliothek, Dissertation Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Fakultät für Informatik 2025, 1 Online-Ressource (xv, 353 Seiten) [Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 291-351]
Article in conference proceedings
GI- und DE-RSE Muster-Leitlinie zur effizienten Entwicklung von Forschungssoftware
Czerniak, Andreas; Ehrenhofer, Adrian; Fritzsch, Bernadette; Funk, Maximilian; Goth, Florian; Hähnle, Reiner; Haupt, Carina; Konersmann, Marco; Linxweiler, Jan; Löffler, Frank; Lüpges, Alexander; Nielebock, Sebastian; Rumpe, Bernhard; Schieferdecker, Ina; Schlauch, Tobias; Speck, Robert; Struck, Alexander; Thiele, Jan Philipp; Tichy, Matthias; Ulusoy, Inga
In: Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V., 2025, 1 Online-Ressource
2024
Book chapter
ASAP-repair - API-specific automated program repair based on API usage graphs
Nielebock, Sebastian; Blockhaus, Paul; Kruger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: 2024 IEEE/ACM International Workshop on Automated Program Repair - Piscataway, NJ : Association for Computing Machinery, insges. 4 S. [Workshop: 5th ACM/IEEE International Workshop on Automated Program Repair, APR '24, Lisbon, Portugal, 20 April 2024]
2021
Book chapter
Exploit those code reviews! - bigger data for deeper learning
Heumüller, Robert; Nielebock, Sebastian; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Proceedings of the 29th ACM Joint Meeting on European Software Engineering Conference and Symposium on the Foundations of Software Engineering / Spinellis , Diomidis - New York,NY,United States : Association for Computing Machinery ; Spinellis, Diomidis . - 2021, S. 1505-1509 [Konferenz: 29th ACM Joint European Software Engineering Conference and Symposium on the Foundations of Software Engineering, ESEC/FSE '21, Athens, Greece, August 23 - 28, 2021]
AndroidCompass - a dataset of android compatibility checks in code repositories
Nielebock, Sebastian; Blockhaus, Paul; Krüger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: 2021 IEEE/ACM 18th International Conference on Mining Software Repositories (MSR) / IEEE/ACM International Conference on Mining Software Repositories , 2021 - New York, New York : The Association for Computing Machinery, S. 535-539 [Konferenz: IEEE/ACM 18th International Conference on Mining Software Repositories, MSR, Madrid, Spain, 17-19 May 2021]
An experimental analysis of graph-distance algorithms for comparing API usages
Nielebock, Sebastian; Blockhaus, Paul; Krüger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: 21th IEEE International Working Conference on Source Code Analysis & Manipulation (SCAM) / IEEE International Working Conference on Source Code Analysis and Manipulation , 2021 - Piscataway, NJ : IEEE, S. 214-225 [Konferenz: 21st IEEE International Working Conference on Source Code Analysis and Manipulation, SCAM 2021, Online, 27 - 28 September 2021]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Guided pattern mining for API misuse detection by change-based code analysis
Nielebock, Sebastian; Heumüller, Robert; Schott, Kevin Michael; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Automated software engineering - Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V, Bd. 28 (2021), Artikel 15, insges. 48 S.
Non-peer-reviewed journal article
An experimental analysis of graph-distance algorithms for comparing API usages
Nielebock, Sebastian; Blockhaus, Paul; Krüger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Arxiv - Ithaca, NY : Cornell University . - 2021, Artikel 2103.01357, insges. 12 S. [Accepted Paper at the 21st IEEE International Working Conference on Source Code Analysis and Manipulation (SCAM) in the Replication and Negative Results (RENE) Track]
2020
Book chapter
Using API-embedding for API-misuse repair
Nielebock, Sebastian; Heumüller, Robert; Krüger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: 2020 IEEE/ACM 42nd International Conference on Software Engineering Workshops, S. 1-2 [Konferenz: 42nd International Conference on Software Engineering Workshops, ICSEW '20, Seoul, South Korea, June, 2020]
Cooperative API misuse detection using correction rules
Nielebock, Sebastian; Heumüller, Robert; Krüger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: 2020 IEEE/ACM 42nd International Conference on Software Engineering: New ideas and emerging results - Piscataway, NJ : IEEE, S. 73-76 [Konferenz: 42nd International Conference on Software Engineering, ICSE '20, Seoul, South Korea, June, 2020]
How can I contribute? - a qualitative analysis of community websites of 25 unix-like distributions
Krüger, Jacob; Nielebock, Sebastian; Heumüller, Robert
In: Proceedings of the Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering / Li , Jingyue - New York,NY,United States : Association for Computing Machinery ; Li, Jingyue . - 2020, S. 324-329 [Konferenz: Evaluation andAssessment in Software Engineering, EASE 2020, Trondheim, Norway, April 15-17, 2020]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Publish or perish, but do not forget your software artifacts
Heumüller, Robert; Nielebock, Sebastian; Krüger, Jacob; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Empirical software engineering - Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V, Bd. 25 (2020), S. 4585-4616
2019
Book chapter
SpecTackle - a specification mining experimentation platform
Heumüller, Robert; Nielebock, Sebastian; Ortmeier, Frank
In: SEAA 2019 - Piscataway, NJ : IEEE ; Staron, Miroslaw, S. 178-181 [Konferenz: 45th Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications, SEAA, Kallithea-Chalkidiki, Greece, 28-30 August 2019]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Programmers do not favor lambda expressions for concurrent object-oriented code
Nielebock, Sebastian; Heumüller, Robert; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Empirical software engineering - Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V, Bd. 24 (2019), Heft 1, S. 103-138 [Online first]
2018
Book chapter
Who plays with whom? ... and how? mining API interaction patterns from source code
Heumüller, Robert; Nielebock, Sebastian; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Software Mining / Li , Ming - New York, NY : ACM . - 2018, S. 8-11 [Workshop: 7th International Workshop on Software Mining, Montpellier, France, September 03 - 03, 2018]
Commits as a basis for API misuse detection
Nielebock, Sebastian; Heumüller, Robert; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Software Mining / Li , Ming - New York, NY : ACM . - 2018, S. 20-23 [Workshop: 7th International Workshop on Software Mining, Montpellier, France, September 03 - 03, 2018]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Commenting source code - is it worth it for small programming tasks?
Nielebock, Sebastian; Krolokowski, Dariusz; Krüger, Jacob; Leich, Thomas; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Empirical software engineering - Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V . - 2018, insges. 40 S. [First online]
2017
Book chapter
Beyond software product lines - variability modeling in cyber-physical systems
Krüger, Jacob; Nielebock, Sebastian; Krieter, Sebastian; Diedrich, Christian; Leich, Thomas; Saake, Gunter; Zug, Sebastian; Ortmeier, Frank
In: Proceedings of the 21th International Software Product Line Conference. Volume A - New York : ACM ; Cohen, Myra . - 2017, S. 237-241 [Konferenz: 21th International Software Product Line Conference, SPLC 2017, Sevilla, Spain,September 25 - 29, 2017]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Towards API-Specific automatic program repair
Nielebock, Sebastian
In: In: Proceedings of the 32nd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering, S. 1010-1013, 2017
2014
Abstract
A graphical notation for probabilistic specifications
Nielebock, Sebastian; Gonschorek, Tim; Ortmeier, Frank
In: VeriSure: Verification and Assurance: 23 July 2014, Vienna, Austria ; in association with Computer-Aided Verification (CAV) 2014, part of the Vienna Summer of Logic ; programm - ViennaKongress: VeriSure (Vienna, Austria : 2014.07.23)
2012
Peer-reviewed journal article
From discrete event simulation to virtual reality environments
Nielebock, Sebastian; Ortmeier, Frank; Schumann, Marco; Winge, André
In: In: Computer Safety, Reliability, and Security, Springer, S. 508-516, 2012
Current projects
Human-Centered Production through Human-Robot Teaming
Duration: 01.02.2024 to 31.01.2027
The core scientific goal is to develop an entirely new approach to programming and specifying robotic programs. For the first time, this will focus solely on target states (e.g., a construction drawing of a finished product) rather than on production steps or specific actions/robot trajectories.
What sets this approach apart is the emphasis on collaborative work between humans and robots. The robot is expected to behave as flexibly as a human teammate. To achieve this, it is essential that the robot's control system is not only objectively safe but also perceived as safe and reliable by its human partner. This includes, for example, the robot adapting its speed based on the level of trust the human teammate has in it.
This project lays the groundwork for cost-effective automation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Completed projects
Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg - Sub-project IT strategies and security
Duration: 01.08.2022 to 31.10.2025
The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg supports small and medium-sized enterprises with the proven transfer approach of informing, qualifying, implementing and networking in the field of digitalization. Our aim is to accompany these companies across organizational boundaries on their path of digital transformation towards competitive products and services, innovative business models and efficient value creation networks.
As part of the "IT strategies and security" sub-project at the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OvGU), as a research institution, is looking at how SMEs can be empowered to make reliable decisions regarding the introduction of digital systems. This includes increasing SMEs' understanding of specific technologies in order to strengthen decision-making skills, strategic approaches to launching digitalization projects and the resilience of these systems in order to be prepared for IT security incidents. The topic is flanked by the focus on "AI & machine learning", in which the technologies and potential of learning systems are explained in concrete terms.
This text was translated with DeepL
API Specific Automatic Program Repair
Duration: 01.01.2016 to 31.07.2025
API Specific Automatic Program Repair or how can we find and fix API Misuses automatically?
Nowadays, programmers re-use much code from existing code libraries by means of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Due to missing or outdated documentation as well as misunderstandings on how to correctly use a particular API, programmers may falsely apply that API.
If this false application leads to a negative behavior of the software, e.g. software crashes, performance losses, or inconvenient software usage, we denote these as API misuses.
Recent research has shown that half of the existing bugs demand an API-specific correction and therefore require knowledge on the correct application of the API. In order to be capable to create API-specific patches automatically, we represent such knowledge as API usage patterns. Based on the existing error localization techniques (e.g., testing, detection of deviant behavior) and mechanisms to extract API usage patterns (e.g. Specification Mining), we plan to create patches for API-specific bugs.
Joint project Mittelstand 4.0 Competence Centre Magdeburg, sub-project Safety and security in the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises
Duration: 01.08.2017 to 31.07.2022
The Mittelstand 4.0 Competence Centre Magdeburg aims to create confidence in digitalization among SMEs, empower employees and managers to implement digitalization measures and enable "digitalization aha experiences". In order to achieve these goals, the SME-oriented technology and knowledge transfer is divided into five different focus areas. Otto von Guericke University is involved in the key areas of "Safety & Security", "Digital Business Models" and "Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning". In order to ensure the transfer of technology and knowledge in these focus areas in line with the needs of SMEs, a wide variety of offers are planned in this project.
This text was translated with DeepL
Validation of the innovation potential of model-based techniques for the safety analysis process (VIP-MoBaSA)
Duration: 01.11.2012 to 30.09.2016
Over the last 30 years, the technological revolution in computer systems has enabled an entire class of new, innovative systems and applications in practically all technical domains. This ranges from highly specialized technology in the aerospace sector, to technology that is not directly visible in the field of energy generation and distribution, to technologies in transportation systems such as rail or private transport.
The price for these new technologies is a greatly increased system complexity, which is essentially determined by the fact that correct and safe functioning can only be achieved through a very well coordinated interplay between control software and controlled actuators. It is traditionally the task of the safety analysis to provide proof that safe operation can be guaranteed or that potential weak points have been identified and corrected by means of suitable considerations before commissioning new systems. The methods used for this in industry and certification are based almost exclusively on procedures from the 1960s and 1970s, which were developed for analyzing mainly mechanical systems. Unfortunately, the increasing number of serious accidents in recent years demonstrates that this is no longer sufficient for modern, software-intensive systems.
Over the last 8 years, the applicant has successfully developed a whole series of new and, by international standards, very efficient methods for model-based, computer-aided safety analysis. It has already been shown that these methods can deliver significantly more precise and meaningful results than traditional techniques. In addition, these methods make it possible to automatically calculate qualitative and quantitative estimates of the reliability and probability of failure of the system at an early design stage. Early estimates of reliability are crucial for the design process. Only in this way is it possible to adapt the system design at an early stage - and therefore cost-efficiently. At the same time, the effort required for the final, safety-related assessment as part of the certification and approval process is significantly reduced.
By making new, automated methods for reliability assessment available, a leap in innovation can be achieved that leads to reduced development times for critical systems across all domains and makes high-precision, a-priori safety analyses possible in a cost-efficient manner. This both reduces development costs and drastically reduces the expected damage to new systems caused by accidents and misjudgements. This has been repeatedly confirmed in a series of presentations and informal preliminary discussions with industry representatives. Unfortunately, these modern methods are still practically not in use outside the academic community.
This text was translated with DeepL
API Specific Automatic Program Repair or how can we find and fix API Misuses automatically?
Nowadays, programmers re-use much code from existing code libraries by means of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Due to missing or outdated documentation as well as misunderstandings on how to correctly use a particular API, programmers may falsely apply that API.
If this false application leads to a negative behavior of the software, e.g. software crashes, performance losses, or inconvenient software usage, we denote these as API misuses.
Recent research has shown that half of the existing bugs demand an API-specific correction and therefore require knowledge on the correct application of the API. In order to be capable to create API-specific patches automatically, we represent such knowledge as API usage patterns. Based on the existing error localization techniques (e.g., testing, detection of deviant behavior) and mechanisms to extract API usage patterns (e.g. Specification Mining), we plan to create patches for API-specific bugs.
This topic is under ongoing research. For questions please refer to Sebastian Nielebock.