Abstract:
Increasing complexity of software systems require extensive maintenance through
decomposition of source code into appropriate abstractions to achieve effective modularization.
An optimal modularization of object-oriented software insuring low coupling and high cohesion
is perceived as a challenging task. In this paper, we present empirical perspective of new intermodule
coupling based modularization metrics to assess their utility. In particular, we explore
impact of correlation between these design-based modularization metrics and external quality
attributes of software systems. Our experimental study covers 34 open source java software
systems and shows that inter-module coupling based modularization correlates with existing
metrics of modularization and also bear substantial relationship with vital quality attributes of
software design.
