Application of Halstead's Timing Model to Predict the Compilation Time of Ada Compilers
Abstract
With the development of Ada, the official programming language of the DoD, methods are needed to validate and evaluate various Ada compilers to determine if the compilers meet the DoD requirements. This thesis introduces a new tool using Halstead's Software Science theory to predict compile time and to evaluate the efficiency of alternative Ada compilers. The analysis was accomplished by selecting a model based on Halstead's time equation. Once the model was established, programs from a benchmark test suite were used to evaluate the predictive power of the model and to develop a performance index for comparisons. The results suggest that the compiler model is useful in predicting compile time, but of more importance, it is useful in the development of a performance index. The study shows that the average compilation time is not a good measure for comparing performance rates. Therefore, with further research, the compiler model may be a useful tool for software analysts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA177652
Entities
People
- Dennis M. Miller
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology