Cyclomatic Complexity Metrics Revisited (Classic Reprint)

Geoffrey K. Gill, Chris F. Kemerer

ISBN 10: 0282263659 / ISBN 13: 9780282263652

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book delves into the critical issue of software complexity, a topic that has long vexed software engineers and managers. The author, drawing on the work of McCabe and other pioneers, examines a specific measure known as cyclomatic complexity, which attempts to quantify the intricate pathways within a program's code. The book explores both theoretical critiques of this metric, particularly those proposed by Myers and Hansen, and empirical concerns regarding its high correlation with simple code size measures. Through an in-depth analysis of real-world software development and maintenance projects, the author tests these criticisms and presents compelling evidence about the practical implications of these different complexity measures. The book goes beyond a simple critique, offering a solution in the form of a transformed metric known as "complexity density." This ratio, calculated by dividing cyclomatic complexity by the size of the system, emerges as a powerful tool for predicting software maintenance productivity, even on small projects. The author's research suggests that complexity density can be used as a valuable indicator of how difficult a program is to maintain, potentially impacting crucial decisions about resource allocation and code restructuring. The book's insights offer software engineers and managers a valuable approach to understanding and managing the complexities inherent in software development and maintenance, ultimately contributing to improved software quality and reduced costs. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9780282263652_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Cyclomatic Complexity Metrics Revisited (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0282263659
• ISBN 13: 9780282263652
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Audits and Surveys

About this title

Synopsis

Excerpt from Cyclomatic Complexity Metrics Revisited: An Empirical Study of Software Development and Maintenance

Mccabe [1976] proposed that a measure of the complexity is the number of possible paths through which the software could execute. Since the number of paths in a program with a backward branch is infinite, he proposed that a reasonable measure would be the number of independent paths.

After defining the program graph for a given program, the complexity calculation would be.

About the Publisher

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.