Using Software Dependencies and Churn Metrics to Predict Field Failures: An Empirical Case Study

Abstract

Commercial software development is a complex task that requires a thorough understanding of the architecture of the software system. We analyze the Windows Server 2003 operating system in order to assess the relationship between its software dependencies, churn measures and post-release failures. Our analysis indicates the ability of software dependencies and churn measures to be efficient predictors of post-release failures. Further, we investigate the relationship between the software dependencies and churn measures and their ability to assess failure-proneness probabilities at statistically significant levels.