A framework for using design metrics to predict maintainability
Michael M. Pickard · 1993
This paper investigates the relationship of design metrics to maintainability of the eventual software product. Case studies drawn from information about production software systems from three different organizations are used as a basis of the research. Design metrics are examined for their utility as predictors of maintainability in the COBOL development environments that produced the systems. New measures derived from the family of structure-oriented metrics are promulgated as candidates for use and are subjected to statistical analyses. A framework for the utilization of metrics as predictors during the development process is suggested.