Validation of a Structural Model of Computer Compile Time.

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether a variation of the Software Physics theory introduced by Maurice H. Halstead can be used to explain the CPU time required to compile Ada programs. A model, based on Halstead's programming time equation, was proposed and tested against a test suite of 171 Ada modules and a second, smaller test suite. Statistical comparison of the actual versus predicted times indicated that the proposed model was statistically significant, at the .05 level, at explaining and predicting compile time. This study was the first step in applying Software Physics theory to the compilation process. The work should be continued, as it could be of significant value in evaluation of the efficiency of various compilers. Keywords: statistical analysis.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA177655

Entities

People

  • Robert S. Maness

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Compilers
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Computing-Related Activities
  • Data Science
  • Efficiency
  • Equations
  • Information Science
  • Mathematics
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Validation

Readers

  • Software Engineering.
  • Software Verification and Validation.
  • Theoretical Analysis.