Towards A Novel Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Code Clones to Assist in Software Development and Software Reuse

Cloning the codes is similar patterns or equivalent code fragments. The code cloning process in software systems has a great impact on software development. Code clones can be beneficial or harmful to the programmer depending on the type of clones detected. In this paper, a framework is proposed to highlight the impacts of cloning codes, which could be analyzed during the identification of code cloning process. Detected clones are segregated into beneficial and non-beneficial clones. By using the beneficial clones a database is created is used in the developing and as well as reusing software. Non-beneficial clones are discarded by refactoring. It is a new approach to software engineering. Effective use of code clones in new software will heighten the software quality.