Accession Number:
ADA101920
Title:
Analyzing a Syntactic Family of Complexity Metrics
Descriptive Note:
Technical rept.
Corporate Author:
MARYLAND UNIV COLLEGE PARK DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1981-05-01
Pagination or Media Count:
33.0
Abstract:
A family of syntactic complexity metrics which contains a number of current metrics is defined. The family is used as a basis for experimental analysis of metrics. Once the family has been implemented, several metrics may be readily formed and computed. This paper uses the family to compare a few simple syntactic metrics to each other. The study also indicates that individual differences have a large impact on the significance of results where many individuals are used. A metric for determining the relative skills of programmers at handling a given level of complexity is also suggested. The study uses the metrics to demonstrate differences between projects on which a methodology was used vs. those on which it was not.
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Statistics and Probability
- Computer Programming and Software
- Human Factors Engineering and Man Machine Systems