Quantitatively evaluate object oriented software evolution

Object-oriented software development follows a path of iterative evolution from the initial design to a mature system. The evolution of an object-oriented system involves two models: the design model and the implementation model. Software design and implementation processes are intertwined. This study uses object-oriented metrics to track the evolution of an object-oriented system. The empirical observations in the study indicate that the evolution of the design and implementation models are not totally independent. Although the evolution of design is relatively independent of the implementation evolution, the implementation evolution may influence the design evolution.