A methodology for development of software composite-metrics for program control-flow structure

Abstract

This paper reports on a pioneer effort for the establishment of a software composite-metric with key capability of distinguishing among different structures. As a part of this effort most of the previously proposed program control-flow complexity metrics are evaluated. It is observed that most of these metrics are inherently limited in distinguishing capability. However, the concept of composite metrics is potentially useful for the development of a practical metrics. This paper presents a methodology for the development of a practical composite metric using statistical techniques. The proposed metric differs from all previous metrics in 2 ways: (1) It is based on an overall structural analysis of a given program in deeper and broader context. It captures various structural measurements taken from all existing structural levels; (2) It unifies a set of 19 important structural metrics. The compositing model of these metrics is based on statistical techniques rather than on an arbitrary method. Experinces with the proposed metric clearly indicate that it distinguishes different structures better than the previous metrics.