Tool support for measuring complexity in heterogeneous object-oriented software

Abstract

In this paper the design of a CASE tool for measuring the complexity of object oriented software systems is described. Use of the tool within the software testing and release sub-process is outlined. The paper argues that (i) for metrics to be properly integrated into a software process requires tool support; (ii) tools must support heterogeneous systems often involving multiple programming languages to be useful in commercial development environments and (iii) given the immaturity of current complexity metrics, tools must be adaptable so that new metrics can readily be incorporated to best support the software process. Using an object oriented programming language meta-model in its database schema, the tool provides a flexible architecture facilitating support for new object oriented programming languages and metrics with relative ease. We believe these are essential requirements for measurement tools used in environments of constantly improving software processes indicative of high maturity organisations.