A fuzzy-based meta-model for reasoning about the number of software defects

Software maintenance engineers need tools to support their work. To make such tools relevant, the tools should provide engineers with quantitative input, as well as the knowledge needed to understand those factors influencing maintenance activities. This paper proposes a comprehensive meta-model for the prediction of a number of defects; it dwells on evidence theory and a number of fuzzy-based models developed using different techniques applied to different subsets of data. Evidence theory and belief function values assigned to generated models are used for reasoning purposes. The study comprises a detailed case for estimating the number of defects in a medical imaging system.