A Hybrid Set of Complexity Metrics for Large-Scale Object-Oriented Software Systems

Abstract

Ma YT, He KQ, Li B et al. A hybrid set of complexity metrics for large-scale object-oriented software systems. AbstractLarge-scale object-oriented (OO) software systems have recently been found to share global network characteristics such as small world and scale free, which go beyond the scope of traditional software measurement and assessment methodologies. To measure the complexity at various levels of granularity, namely graph, class (and object) and source code, we propose a hierarchical set of metrics in terms of coupling and cohesion -the most important characteristics of software, and analyze a sample of 12 open-source OO software systems to empirically validate the set. Experimental results of the correlations between cross-level metrics indicate that the graph measures of our set complement traditional software metrics well from the viewpoint of network thinking, and provide more effective information about fault-prone classes in practice.

Software metrics for measuring the understandability of architectural structures

“…This can reduce trustworthiness of the proposed metrics. It is worth noticing that only three of the proposed studies are validated independently ( [22,46,45]). Independent validation (not performed by the metrics' main proponents) is very important for the proof of metrics usefulness before common acceptance is sought.…”

“…et al [13] Graph-based Maintainability, Bug severity MD=2, MQ=1, LV=3, USB=2, CA=1, AP=3, TS=2 Elish [22] Internal structure Understandability MD=-, MQ=1, LV=4, USB=3, CA=1, AP=2, TS=2 Gupta et al [27] Internal structure Understandability MD=3, MQ=1, LV=2, USB=2, CA=1, AP=2, TS=2 Gupta et al [28] Internal structure Reusability MD=3, MQ=3, LV=1, USB=2, CA=2, AP=2, TS=2 Haohua et al [29] Graph-based Complexity MD=2, MQ=1, LV=3, USB=2, CA=1, AP=2, TS=2 Hu et al [30] Specific model Maintainability MD=2, MQ=2, LV=2, USB=2, CA=1, AP=2, TS=1 Hwa et al [31] Internal structure Understandability MD=2, MQ=3, LV=2, USB=2, CA=1, AP=2, TS=2 Kanjilal et al [32] Graph-based Complexity MD=2, MQ=1, LV=2, USB=3, CA=1, AP=2, TS=1 Lindvall et al [44] Internal structure Maintainability MD=1, MQ=3, LV=2, USB=2, CA=1, AP=3, TS=2 Ma et al [45,46] Graph-based Complexity, Fault rate MD=-, MQ=1, LV=4, USB=2, CA=2, AP=2, TS=2 Misic [47] Internal structure External coherence MD=3, MQ=1, LV=1, USB=3, CA=1, AP=2, TS=1 Reddy et al [52] Graph-based Complexity MD=2, MQ=3, LV=1, USB=2, CA=2, AP=2, TS=1 Salman [54] Internal structure Maintainability, Integrability MD=3, MQ=1, LV=3, USB=3, CA=1, AP=2, TS=1 Sarkar et al [57] Internal structure Modularization MD=2, MQ=1, LV=3, USB=2, CA=1, AP=2, TS=2 Sartipi [58] Graph-based Modularization MD=2, MQ=1, LV=2, USB=2, CA=1, AP=3, TS=2 Sheresh. et al [60] Specific model -MD=2, MQ=2, LV=-, USB=1, CA=1, AP=1, TS=1 Wei et al [61] Graph-based -MD=2, MQ=1, LV=-, USB=2, CA=1, AP=1, TS=1 Yu et al [62] Specific model Fault rate MD=1, MQ=1, LV=2, USB=2, CA=1, AP=2, TS=2 Zhou et al [63] Graph-based External coherence MD=3, MQ=1, LV=2, USB=2, CA=2, AP=2, TS=2…”

Investigating the Strength of Relationships among Software Metrics

“…Jiang [4] found that source code metrics perform better than design level metrics and combination of them performs the best. Y Ma [5] proposed a hybrid set of complexity metrics for large scale object oriented systems. Authors [6] suggested new software metrics based on coding standards violations to capture latent faults in a development.…”

Software design metric based analysis of dependency patterns

“…Lanza and Marinescu [11] introduces detection strategies for disharmonies with software design metrics. Yu-Tao [12] mixes metric based and graph based approaches to help finding error prone classes, treating complex software systems as large networks.…”