Automated Refactoring Suggestions Using the Results of Code Analysis Tools

Abstract

Static analysis tools are used for the detection of errors and other problems on source code level. The detected problems related to the internal structure of a software can be removed by source code transformations called refactorings. To automate such source code transformations, refactoring tools are available. In modern integrated development environments, there is a gap between the static analysis tools and the refactoring tools. This paper presents an automated approach for the improvement of the internal quality of software by using the results of code analysis tools to call a refactoring tool to remove detected problems. The approach is generic, thus allowing the combination of arbitrary tools. As a proof of concept, this approach is implemented as a plug-in for the integrated development environment Eclipse.