A software defect prediction method based on learnable three-line hybrid feature fusion

Abstract

Software defect prediction (SDP) plays a crucial role in ensuring the security and quality of software systems. However, it faces challenges posed by high-dimensional features present in software defect datasets and the limited effectiveness of traditional nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods in extracting essential feature information. To address these issues, we propose a novel approach called learnable three-line hybrid feature fusion (LTHFFA), which incorporates the principle of three-line hybrid breeding into feature fusion for the first time. In this method, three distinct dimensionality reduction techniques are initially employed to obtain three separate sets of features. Subsequently, a learnable weight factor feature fusion method is proposed to facilitate automatically learn and dynamically update of feature weights. By integrating the three feature sets based on the principle of three-line hybrid breeding, we derive learnable three-line hybrid fusion features. These features are then utilized in the context of software defect prediction. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of LTHFFA compared to nine other dimensionality reduction methods across seventeen publicly available software defect datasets. LTHFFA exhibits the ability to effectively integrate multiple feature sets, reduce feature redundancy, and enhance predictive accuracy. Moreover, statistical analysis using Friedman ranking and Holm's post-hoc test confirms the significant advantage of LTHFFA over alternative dimensionality reduction methods.