Using Program Slicing Metrics for the Analysis of Bug Fixing Processes
Raula Gaikovina Kula · 2010
Software Process Improvement is increasingly becoming a major activity for most software development organizations due to the benefits seen in the cost and business value. Software process assessments, however, can be tedious, complicated and costly. This research explores alternative assessments by analysis of fine grain processes of bug fixing with their bug characteristics. Using the novel approach of applying program slicing metrics to understand bugs, the research studied the relationships between bug characteristics and their bug fixing processes. The results suggested specific characteristics such as cyclomatic complexity may relate to how long it takes to fix a bug. Results in the study serve as a proof of concept to the feasibility of this proposed assessment. Future refinement of the metrics and much larger sample data is needed. This research is seen as the initial step in the development of assessment tools to assists with Software Process Improvement. It opens possibilities for assessment tools for software processes.