Abstract
This paper presents an investigation into four distinct aspects of software complexity. An initial partition of the software complexity domain would be the attributes of static software complexity and those of dynamic software comlexity. Static complexity measurement views all program modules monolithically. That is, all of the code for all of the modules is measured as extracted from source code files. When computer software is actually executed, not all modules are executed to the same extent. Some receive a large proportion of execution activity. Further, when these modules execute, not all code in the modules executes. If just the code that is executed is measured for complexity a completely different view of the program module emerges. In this investigation we will examine the static complexity of a program together with the three dynamic measures of functional, fractional, and operational complexity. The eminent value of the dynamic metrics is shown in their role as measures of test outcomes.
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Munson, J.C., Hall, G.A. Estimating test effectiveness with dynamic complexity measurement. Empirical Software Engineering 1, 279–305 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00127448
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00127448