A practical classification-rule for software-quality models

Abstract

A practical classification rule for a SQ (software quality) model considers the needs of the project to use a model to guide targeting software RE (reliability enhancement) efforts, such as extra reviews early in development. Such a rule is often more useful than alternative rules. This paper discusses several classification rules for SQ models, and recommends a generalized classification rule, where the effectiveness and efficiency of the model for guiding software RE efforts can be explicitly considered. This is the first application of this rule to SQ modeling that we know of. Two case studies illustrate application of the generalized classification rule. A telecommunication-system case-study models membership in the class of fault-prone modules as a function of the number of interfaces to other modules. A military-system case-study models membership in the class of fault-prone modules as a function of a set of process metrics that depict the development history of a module. These case studies are examples where balanced misclassification rates resulted in more useful and practical SQ models than other classification rules.