Software metrics using a metasystem approach to software specification
Abstract This article investigates how software metrics can be defined as part of a metasystem approach to the development of software specifications environments. Environment transformation language (ETL) is used to define metric computations. In our approach, metrics applicable to a particular specification environment (e.g., a data flow diagram environment) are defined in conjunction with a formal definition of that environment as given in environment definition language (EDL). The goal is to support a metric-driven approach to software development by incorporating, with relative ease, the metric computation into the software specification environment. As representative examples, metrics for data flow diagrams, structure charts, and resource flow graphs are described and analyzed. We demonstrate how an analyst, interacting with the system, can use metrics to improve the quality of the deliverables.