A model-based approach to object-oriented software metrics

The need to improve software productivity and software quality has put forward the research on software metrics technology and the development of software metrics tool to support related activities. To support object-oriented software metrics practice effectively, a model-based approach to object-oriented software metrics is proposed in this paper. This approach guides the metrics users to adopt the quality metrics model to measure the object-oriented software products. The development of the model can be achieved by using a top-down approach. This approach explicitly proposes the conception of absolute normalization computation and relative normalization computation for a metrics model. Moreover, a generic software metrics tool - Jade Bird Object-Oriented Metrics Tool (JBOOMT) is designed to implement this approach. The parser-based approach adopted by the tool makes the information of the source program accurate and complete for measurement. It supports various customizable hierarchical metrics models and provides a flexible user interface for users to manipulate the models. It also supports absolute and relative normalization mechanisms in different situations.