Measuring the Impact of Changes to the Complexity and Coupling Properties of Automotive Software Systems

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the past few decades, exponential increase in the amount of software used in cars has been recorded. Complex software is hard to maintain, especially due to constant changes which are essential in a car evolution process. To avoid the possible negative impact of changes on the system quality attributes, appropriate measurements of change are needed. METHOD: The research presented in this paper is based on the quantitative case study conducted together with our industrial partner Volvo Car Corporation (VCC). RESULTS: The structural complexity and coupling analysis of automotive software systems compared through different releases are applicable for measuring the size and locating the origin of the biggest and the most severe architectural changes. CONCLUSION: By applying the metrics after each significant change in the system, it is possible to verify that certain quality attributes have not decreased to an unsatisfactory level and to identify parts of the system which should be tested more. This increases the product quality and reduces its development cost.