System design metrics: a review and perspective

In comparison with code metrics relatively little work has been carried out in the area of system design metrics. However, it is potentially a more useful field for research than code metrics: design metrics can be extracted much earlier in a project and can be used to predict the extent of a greater number of activities. The majority of recent system design metrics can be partitioned into three categories: network metrics, stability metrics and information flow metrics. The author discusses each of these metrics before looking at the issue of software tools for system design metrics extraction and processing. He also examines empirical validations in the system design metrics area.<>