Code Readability: A Review of Metrics for Software Quality

Code Readability: A Review of Metrics for Software Quality

  IJCTT-book-cover
 		 International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT)          
 
© 2017 by IJCTT Journal
Volume-46 Number-1
Year of Publication : 2017
Authors : Ankit Pahal, Rajender S. Chillar
DOI :  10.14445/22312803/IJCTT-V46P101

MLA

Ankit Pahal, Rajender S. Chillar "Code Readability: A Review of Metrics for Software Quality". International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT) V46(1):1-4, April 2017. ISSN:2231-2803. www.ijcttjournal.org. Published by Seventh Sense Research Group.

Abstract -
Various software metrics evaluate the complexity of software by using some physical software characteristics. Readability Metrics is exceptional amongst the present software complexity metrics for considering a non-physical software characteristics i.e. readability. Readability should be the key quality attributes for program source codes. The readability of the software is strongly associated to its maintainability, and is thus the crucial feature in whole quality of software. More the readable code, greater the chances of having easier to modify, less mistakes, more maintainable, easy to reuse, and more reliable. Readability is used to improve source codes for future preservation and extensibility. But code readability is not simply computable with a deterministic function. In this review paper, we will study various common readability metrics present in the literature such as Flesch-Kincaid metric, Gunning-Fog metric, SMOG index and Automated Readability Index (ARI) and how to calculate readability score metrics. Then we will relate the notion of code readability and examine its relation to software quality. Lastly, based on this review study, we will classify challenging issues for the future work of the code readability.

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Keywords
software engineering, code readability, software quality, code maintainability.