Complex Sciences. First International Conference, Complex 2009, Shanghai, China, February 23-25, 2009, Revised Papers, Part 2

Research Article

A Novel Software Evolution Model Based on Software Networks

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-02469-6_9,
        author={Weifeng Pan and Bing Li and Yutao Ma and Jing Liu},
        title={A Novel Software Evolution Model Based on Software Networks},
        proceedings={Complex Sciences. First International Conference, Complex 2009, Shanghai, China, February 23-25, 2009, Revised Papers, Part 2},
        proceedings_a={COMPLEX PART 2},
        year={2012},
        month={5},
        keywords={software networks evolution model software complexity},
        doi={10.1007/978-3-642-02469-6_9}
    }
    
  • Weifeng Pan
    Bing Li
    Yutao Ma
    Jing Liu
    Year: 2012
    A Novel Software Evolution Model Based on Software Networks
    COMPLEX PART 2
    Springer
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-02469-6_9
Weifeng Pan1,*, Bing Li1, Yutao Ma1, Jing Liu1
  • 1: Wuhan University
*Contact email: panweifeng1982@gmail.com

Abstract

Many published papers analyzed the forming mechanisms and evolution laws of OO software systems from software reuse, software pattern, etc. There, however, have been fewer models so far merely built on the software components such as methods, classes, etc. and their interactions. In this paper, a novel Software Evolution Model based on Software Networks (called SEM-SN) is proposed. It uses software network at class level to represent software systems, and uses software network’s dynamical generating process to simulate activities in real software development process such as new classes’ dynamical creations and their dynamical interactions with already existing classes. It also introduces the concept of node/edge ageing to describe the decaying of classes with time. Empirical results on eight open-source Object-Oriented (OO) software systems demonstrate that SCM-SN roughly describes the evolution process of software systems and the emergence of their complex network characteristics.