Modelling and measurement of Prolog data
Margaret Myers, Agnes Kaposi · Software Engineering Journal · 1991
In software technology, the need for measurement is now well recognised, but it is proving difficult to devise measures that are unique, meaningful, objective and representative. This paper presents a method for characterising inherent properties of static Prolog code and assigning to them values by measurement. The principal aim here is to demonstrate that a model-based approach to measurement helps to ensure the quality of measures. We propose a model of the data entities in Prolog program texts, together with the model of the constructors that combine them into complete programs. The model-based measurement system presented characterises data entities by a six-tuple, and composes six-tuples to yield measures of complete programs or their parts. Model-based measurement ensures that the meaning of the measures is explicit. We also describe a tool that implements the measurement system.