HE Peng, WANG Peng, LI Bing, et al. An Evolution Analysis of Software System Based on Multi-granularity Software Network[J]. Acta Electronica Sinica, 2018, 46(2): 257-267.
DOI:
HE Peng, WANG Peng, LI Bing, et al. An Evolution Analysis of Software System Based on Multi-granularity Software Network[J]. Acta Electronica Sinica, 2018, 46(2): 257-267. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0372-2112.2018.02.001.
An Evolution Analysis of Software System Based on Multi-granularity Software Network
Software as a man-made system is a typical complex system
understanding its evolution contributes to better software engineering practice. In this paper
we construct software network model from a multi-granularity perspective
namely the level of package
class and feature respectively. Then we analyze the evolutions of three open-source software systems in terms of network scale
quality and structure control indicators
using complex network theory. Finally
taking Lehman's evolution laws as the benchmarks
we compare the evolution of software networks based on multi-granularity. The results show that: (1) the evolution characteristics are varied under different granularity levels
and software network built in the level of class supports the most Lehman laws; (2) the laws of continuing growth
increasing complexity
self-regulation and conservation of familiarity are independent of the levels of granularity; (3) the impact of software evolution in the level of package on software quality is trivial
but feedback system is only supported in the case of class level.