ISSN 0021-3454 (print version)
ISSN 2500-0381 (online version)
Menu

2
Issue
vol 67 / February, 2024
Article

DOI 10.17586/0021-3454-2019-62-11-970-975

UDC 621.396.6

APPLICATION OF HALSTEAD METRICS FOR QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF COMPUTER PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS

A. V. Averianov
Mozhaysky Military-Space Academy, Department of Information and Computing Systems and Networks;


I. N. Koshel
A. F. Mozhaisky Military Space Academy, Department of Information Sys-tems and Networks; Head of the Faculty;


V. V. Kuznetsov
A. F. Mozhaisky Military Space Academy, Department of Information Systems and Networks ; docent


Read the full article 

Abstract. Halstead metrics are applied to statistical characterization of algorithms in programming languages in mnemonic and machine codes. Three programs in mnemonic codes and machine codes are chosen as the studied objects; the programs implement a branching algorithm, an algorithm associated with array pro-cessing, and an algorithm using a subroutine, correspondingly. The derived estimates of the programs length are established to differ significantly from the values obtained as a result of direct analysis of pro-gram texts. It is proved that the transition from programming in mnemonic codes to machine codes in the implementation of algorithms significantly increases the program volume. The lower the level of the pro-gramming language used, the larger the volume of the program, which as a result leads to an increase in the number of potential errors and a decrease in the reliability of software functioning.
Keywords: Halstead metrics, operator, operand, length, program dictionary, programming language level, program value, software reliability

References:
  1. Moroz G.B. Upravlyayushchiye sistemy i mashiny, 1996, no. 1–2, pp. 69–84. (in Russ.)
  2. Kremez G.V., ed., Ekspluatatsiya sredstv vychislitel'noy tekhniki. Chast' 1. Apparatnyye sredstva vychislitel'noy tekhniki (Operation of Computer Equipment. Part 1. Computer Hardware), St. Petersburg, 2013, 505 р. (in Russ.)
  3. Halstead M.H. Elements of Software Science, NY, Elsevier, 1977, 127 р.
  4. Zhmakin A.P. Arkhitektura EVM (Computer Architecture), St. Petersburg, 2010, 352 р. (in Russ.)
  5. Basyrov A.G. Organizatsiya EVM i sistem: praktikum (Organization of Computers and Systems: Workshop), St. Petersburg, 2012, 83 р. (in Russ.)
  6. Aver'yanov A.V., Belaya T.I., Molchanov O.E. Estestvennyе i tekhnickeskiye nauki, 2016, no. 6, pp. 160–164. (in Russ.)
  7. Aver'yanov A.V., Kalyuzhnyy A.V. Journal of Instrument Engineering, 2019, no. 2(62), pp. 101–105. (in Russ.)
  8. Esaulov K.A., Aver'yanov A.V., Kuznetsov V.V. Nadezhnost' avtomatizirovannykh sistem: praktikum (Reliability of Automated Systems: Workshop), St. Petersburg, 2014, 71 р. (in Russ.)
  9. Molchanov O.E., ed., Mikroprotsessornyye sredstva vychislitel'noy tekhniki. Chast' 1. Mikroprotsessory (Microprocessor-Based Computing Equipment. Part 1. Microprocessors), Leningrad, 1990, 168 р. (in Russ.)
  10. Abel P. IBM PC Assembler Language and Programming, Prentice Hall, 1987.