Potential problem areas of design metrics for object oriented systems

This study provides information on the effectiveness of design metrics when used on object oriented systems and explores means of increasing metric use-fulness in regard to the problem areas identified. Evidence shows that current metrics are weak in assessing some qualities when faced with concepts central to object orientation. It describes practices in design and implementation that cause complications in calculating metrics and what effects those practices may have on various types of metrics by examining specific examples as well as discussing the theory involved. It examines assumptions which can be made in the formulation of metrics to avoid the issues caused by these practices and what effect these assumptions will have on metric results.Department of Computer ScienceThesis (M.S.