Metrics in assessing the quality and evolution of jEdit

Abstract

Adequate metrics of object-oriented software enable to determine the complexity of a system, estimate the effort needed for testing and even locate some parts in the design that could be error prone or should be redesigned. The measurements and metrics are not widely used in the development of software. Contemporary systems are complex and adequate measuring tool is necessary in the design and evolution process. In this paper we present how software metrics can be used in assessing software. Next, a case study-an evaluation of three versions of a well known open source software-jEdit is presented. To measure this application Metrics 1.3.6, an Eclipse plug-in, was used. The correlation of metrics values and real quality attributes of software is described. On the basis of metrics values some conclusions concerning the quality of the design of each version and some general trends in the evolution of jEdit project evolution are derived. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media.