Metrics for quality analysis and improvement of object-oriented software

Software metrics are playing an important role in analysing and improving quality of software work products during their development. Measuring the aspects of software complexity for object-oriented software strongly helps to improve the quality of such systems during their development, while especially focusing on reusability and maintainability. It is widely accepted that more widespread use of object-oriented techniques can only come about when there are tool systems that provide development support beyond visualising code. Unfortunately, many object-oriented metrics are defined and applied to classroom projects but no evidence is given that the metrics are useful and applicable both from an experience viewpoint and from a tools viewpoint - for industrial object-oriented development. Distinct complexity metrics are developed and integrated in a Smalltalk development support system called SmallMetric. Thus, we achieve a basis for software analysis (metrics) and development support (critique) of Smalltalk systems. The main concepts of the environment including the underlying metrics are explained, its use and operation is discussed, and some results of the implementation and its application to several industrial projects are given with examples. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.