Where to put a description of software tools used in a thesis?

Question

At the moment I'm writing my master-thesis in the area of information systems. Because I developed some code to demonstrate my approach, I also mention some software tools in my proof-of-concept section. I'm talking about the ones used at multiple places, that are not really important.

• Shall I describe them in the appendix or somewhere else?
• Shall I link them to the description each time I mention a certain tool?
• Shall I give a link to their website in the footnotes?

I know, that there is no right and wrong to this. Nevertheless, I have the freedom and I'm searching for a good approach. Maybe someone had the same problem or knows which existing thesis has an elegant solution.

At the moment, I put a link in the footnote at the first mentioning of a tool; I also have a short description for the software tools in the appendix.

Answer 1

I would check with your department on the standard structure of a thesis. Typically these questions are addressed in the relative documentation.

If your thesis includes a methods section, then, by all means, list your software tools there, including how you used them, and make sure you conclude each mention with a correct (and lasting) reference in the bibliography.

If your thesis does not include an explicit methods section, then mention the tool when you first use it, describe its function, and add a bibliographical reference; in later sections you can write "we use software XYZ for the task (see section XX and reference YY)" where you refer both to your description on how to use the software tool, and to the bibliographical reference. Note that if you use your software tool in a different manner you should describe its alternative use.

Please, do not include Windows, Linux, or any operative system as a software tool if they are just a generic platform on which you are running your software. The same goes for any other tool (software or not) that is not specific and necessary for your research.