Naslov
The influence of cyclomatic complexity distribution on the understandability of xtUML models

Autori
Ukić, Nenad ; Maras, Josip ; Šerić, Ljiljana

Izvornik
Software quality journal (0963-9314) 26 (2016), 2; 273-319

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
xtUML ; understandability ; cyclomatic complexity ;

Sažetak
Executable software models formalize functional software requirements. This means that the understandability of software models is of paramount importance. In this paper, we investigate the influence of distribution of model cyclomatic complexity on the understandability of Executable Translatable UML (xtUML) models. We adapt traditional cyclomatic complexity metrics to different xtUML sub-models and present two different ways of measuring complexity distribution: horizontal, among elements of the same type, and vertical, among elements of different types. In order to test our hypothesis that cyclomatic complexity distribution influences the understandability of xtUML models, we have performed an experiment with student participants in which we have evaluated the understandability of three semantically equivalent xtUML models with different complexity distributions. Results indicate that a better distribution of cyclomatic complexity has a positive influence on model understandability.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Računarstvo

POVEZANOST RADA