Analyzing a Syntactic Family of Complexity Metrics

摘要

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. (Author)