The limits of clone model standardization

Abstract

Many tools for clone detection exist. Each has its own model of clones and its own data format. This makes it difficult to share results, compare detectors, and replicate existing studies. Although there have been attempts to provide unified clone models in the past, no widely accepted unified clone model and data format has emerged. This paper discusses challenges that may be the reason why this is the case. In this paper we suggest that existing specialized models should be kept and supplemented with one unified model that serves for exchange only.