Characterizing the Architectural Erosion Metrics: A Systematic Mapping Study

Abstract

Software architecture is crucial in determining success or failure in a variety of software development and design fields. Typically, as a system evolves, software architecture deteriorates. This phenomenon is known as architectural erosion. Several studies have addressed architectural erosion based on different solutions. As a result, the metrics technique is the most prevalent solution for architectural erosion. Nevertheless, a comprehensive description of architectural erosion metrics remains unorganized and scattered. This work aims to conduct a systematic mapping to describe and analyze the architectural erosion metrics to provide an overview of erosion metrics and their current trends. Furthermore, no systematic attempts have been made on architectural erosion metrics. The final samples of this study were specified as a total of 43 included papers. Nearly 100 architectural erosion metrics were found. We proposed nine classifications to address architectural erosion challenges, based on adopted approaches in primary studies. The metrics of architectural erosion provide strong evidence for identifying decay and a rapid enabler factor for the adoption of numerous metrics mechanisms to address architectural erosion. The classification of metrics, which is the first of its kind, benefits researchers and practitioners. However, it can be concluded that various aspects are still ambiguous and require further research on architectural erosion measures.

An Empirical Analysis of Approach-Based Metrics Model for Architectural Erosion Detection

“…The initial development of a software metrics model for analysing architectural erosion was conducted using systematic mapping 13 . Meanwhile, there is a major disparity and deficiency in realizing and assessing the metrics criteria that fundamentally drive and identify architectural erosion; Therefore, the research hypotheses were developed on the basis of (1) the literature review that was presented in this study and (2) the results of a previously conducted systematic mapping study, which demonstrated the significance of taking metrics into consideration when determining the presence of architectural erosion.…”

“…A research model, shown in Figure 1, was constructed based on the aforementioned literature analysis and the facts, as well as the results of our own pr-conducted studies 13,17 . Considering this, two-tailed hypotheses that have been developed as follows:…”

“…To create a proposed model for architectural erosion contexts, a systematic mapping study (SMS) was performed 13 . The study encompassed 92 metrics and 10 quality attributes.…”

“…7 . This phenomenon is commonly referred to as Architectural Erosion (AE) [8][9][10][11][12][13] , Software Architecture Degradation (SAD) [14][15][16][17] , Architectural Decay (AD) [18][19][20] . According to a survey of the studies conducted by the researchers working in this field, the term Architecture Erosion (AE) or Architectural Erosion (AE) is the one that is used in most of their studies.…”

“…Additionally, there is a need a model for selecting the appropriateness of the adopted measures approaches and the reliance on an appropriate classification that clarify ambiguous definitions regrading metrics, their adopted approaches, and its categories, as well as investigate complicated, inaccurate, or incomplete approaches of the adopted metrics. The certain shortcomings and obstacles regarding architectural erosion have already provided the substantial motivation for researchers to formulate an initial metrics approaches model for architectural erosion based on academic-related literature 13 .…”