Language Independent Definition of Axiomatic Metrics

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a way of getting a more objective measurement of different attributes concerning both implementations as well as specifications of software systems. In order to gain this goal we are using a general basis on which all the information is stored, which is necessary and useful, when analyzing the corresponding implementation or specification by applying different metrics. As a starting point for this general basis the usage of flowgraphs was taken, as flowgraphs are a well-known and frequently used method for presenting the control flow and the structure of a program.

In fact, using flowgraphs as white-box description was only reasonable in so far as the analyzed documents has clear notions of control flow. We were forced to modifications in order to handle specification languages like LOTOS (Language Of Temporal Ordering Specification, standardized by CCITT) where we have different constructs which only can be mapped onto the sanie flowgraph structure. So, we clearly came to a more syntax oriented theory than flowgraphs. This development resulted in the so-called descriptor theory which is much more general and flowgraphs can be seen as a special case.

The work was carried out as part of the ESPRIT II project COSMOS^1.2 (Cost Management with Metrics of Specification).