Complexity Metrics

Paper Summary:

This paper examines various complexity metrics software such as McCabe's Cyclomatic Metrics and Halstead Complexity Measures.The author points out that there are many opinions surrounding the usage of the various metrics particularly in relation to the clarity of the results that they produce. The paper relates that many of the metrics are language independent or can be easily adapted to measure many of the most common languages. The paper includes several formulas and long quotations.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
McCabe's Cyclomatic Metrics
Halsteads Complexity Measures
Henry and Kafura
Source Lines of Code (SLOC)
Weighted Methods per Class (WMC)
Choice of Programming Paradigms and Computer Languages Impact on the Choice of Metrics Used in a Given Situation
Metrics from the Management Perspective and How Metrics Can Aid in the Improvement of the Software Process
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The quantity and the complexity of methods involved is a predictor of the amount of time and effort necessary to create and maintain the class. The more significant the number of methods within a class, the greater the possible impact on children. Such an impact exists because children inherit all of the methods defined within the parent class. In addition when classes have large numbers of methods there is usually more application specific, which limits the likelihood of reuse. WMC is a natural number. The calculation for this metric is WMC is the sum of all V(G methods) in a class."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Berard E.V. Metrics for Object-Oriented Software Engineering . The Object Agency, Inc. Retrieved May 19, 2006 from: http://www.ipipan.gda.pl/~marek/objects/TOA/moose.html
• Cyclomatic Complexity. Carnegie Mellon Software engineering institute. Retrieved May 19, 2006 from: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/str/descriptions/cyclomatic_body.html#alternatives
• Halstead Complexity Measures. Carnegie Mellon Software engineering institute Retrieved May 19, 2006 from: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/str/descriptions/halstead.html#1227444
• Munipalli, Yamini (Jul 25, 2005) Measuring the Risk Factor. Retrieved May 19, 2006 from: http://www.stickyminds.com/sitewide.asp?Function=edetail&ObjectType=ART&ObjectId=9379
• OOMetrics. Retrieved May 19, 2006 from: http://www.refactorit.com/?id=29676

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