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A Validation of Object-Oriented Design Metrics as Quality IndicatorsThis paper presents the results of a study in which we empirically investigated the suits of object-oriented (00) design metrics introduced in another work. More specifically, our goal is to assess these metrics as predictors of fault-prone classes and, therefore, determine whether they can be used as early quality indicators. This study is complementary to the work described where the same suite of metrics had been used to assess frequencies of maintenance changes to classes. To perform our validation accurately, we collected data on the development of eight medium-sized information management systems based on identical requirements. All eight projects were developed using a sequential life cycle model, a well-known 00 analysis/design method and the C++ programming language. Based on empirical and quantitative analysis, the advantages and drawbacks of these 00 metrics are discussed. Several of Chidamber and Kamerer's 00 metrics appear to be useful to predict class fault-proneness during the early phases of the life-cycle. Also, on our data set, they are better predictors than 'traditional' code metrics, which can only be collected at a later phase of the software development processes.
Document ID
19990025395
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Basili, Victor R.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD United States)
Briand, Lionel C.
(Fraunhofer-Inst. for Experimental Software Engineering Kaiserslautern, Germany)
Melo, Walcelio
(CRIM Montreal, Quebec Canada)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Software Engineering Laboratory Series: Collected Software Engineering Papers
Volume: 15
Subject Category
Computer Programming And Software
Report/Patent Number
IEEE-LN-S95819
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NsG-5123
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF 01-5-24845
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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