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The Arbitrary Complexity of Software

Authors:

Henrik Thane, Mårten Larsson

Publication Type:

Report

Abstract

There exists yet no holistic engineering knowledge on how to design and verify software systems. The existence of silver bullets for software has been refuted several times during the last 10 years, but still the notion remains. In this document we present an overview of software measurement based on a literature study. A measurement program is essential in all engineering disciplines in order to enable evaluation of different designs characteristics. But, to this day, despite research for the last 30 years, there has not been put forth any satisfactory measurement technique that captures the complexity of software. We do in this paper however propose how a model that captures the control-flow, data-flow and data structure complexity of software could be devised. The model should be based on empirical data, preferably on errors in software. If a measurement model devised upon this proposal is fruitful we might be able to analyze the alleged silver bullets and perhaps refute or confirm them once and for all. And, finally relevant design principles might emerge.

Bibtex

@techreport{Thane109,
author = {Henrik Thane and M{\aa}rten Larsson},
title = {The Arbitrary Complexity of Software},
month = {May},
year = {1997},
url = {http://www.es.mdu.se/publications/109-}
}