Sharing Is Scaring: The Unexpected Link Between Cloud File Sharing and Programming Language Semantics

Users frequently struggle with cloud file-sharing applications. This study argues that these difficulties stem not just from poor interfaces, but also from a fundamental misunderstanding of the underlying semantics of actions like linking, attaching, downloading, and editing—mirroring challenges in grasping programming concepts such as aliasing, copying, and mutation. A user study reveals widespread misconceptions by mapping known programming-education misunderstandings onto similar file-sharing tasks. The researchers also developed a formal semantics of cloud file-sharing operations, providing a foundation for improved mental models, educational tools, and automated assistance. This formalization can support applications like trace checking and workflow synthesis.