Complexity, evaluation and reduction using hierarchical-client-server model (HCS)

Software complexity measures are presented which are based on connections between components according to the hierarchical-client-server (HCS) model. The author outlines complexity criteria and some complexity reduction methods and discusses their applicability and significance for system architecture. The main contribution of this work is that complexity can be evaluated and controlled in all stages of the development phase, from early design stages to the ready product (reverse engineering), and all levels of the system decomposition, from top-level components to lower-level components, whereas most other complexity measures are based on attributes of the complete product. The complexity criteria and reduction methods described were applied to real software systems and proved to be very useful for reducing the development and maintenance cost and time and promoting quality.<>