Automatic Design Patterns Identification of C++ Programs

Abstract

A canonical model is formulated in this work for the representation of design patterns, in order to approach the problem of identification of design patterns in source code, and a system is developed as well, called DEPAIC++ (DEsign PAtterns Identification of C++ programs). Starting from the analysis of the structure of classes of a code written in C++ programming language, DEPAIC++ realizes a recognition to verify that the code analyzed is using or not design patterns. It is important to observe that this recognition is not necessary complete, since, in the source code, can be approximation to design patterns. This approach constitutes a support to the understanding process and, therefore, to the maintenance of source code with nonexistent or inappropriate documentation. The work also suggests that this approach allows to identify code reusability and code quality, which are inherited from the used design pattern.