# Patent

## Title
Technologies for code failure proneness estimation

## Abstract

The present examples provide technologies for estimating code failure proneness probabilities for a code set and/or the files that make up the set. The code set being evaluated is typically comprised of binary and/or source files that embody the software for which the estimates are desired. The estimates are typically based on a set of selected code metrics, the code metrics typically selected based on corresponding failures of a previous version of the software. A historically variant metric feedback factor may also be calculated and code metric values classified relative to a baseline code set embodying the previous version of the software.

## Background
RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a continuation of, and claims benefit from, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/740,722, filed Apr. 26, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.


BACKGROUND
Estimating software quality is a major challenge for software development organizations. Having early estimates of software quality may help an organization to focus testing resources to minimize cost and maximize quality. But it can be difficult to select, calculate, and apply code metrics sufficient to determine useful failure proneness for software; that is, to estimate which software modules or files are more likely to experience failures during execution.
SUMMARY
The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present examples provide technologies for estimating code failure proneness probabilities for a code set and/or the files that make up the set. The code set being evaluated is typically comprised of binary and/or source files that embody the software for which the estimates are desired. The estimates are typically based on a set of selected code metrics, the code metrics typically selected based on corresponding failures of a previous version of the software. A historically variant metric feedback factor may also be calculated and code metric values classified relative to a baseline code set embodying the previous version of the software.
Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.



DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example code failure proneness estimation (“CFPE”) system along with example inputs and example outputs.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example method for estimating the failure proneness of a code set.
FIG. 3 is a screen shot showing an example output of an example CFPE system.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example computing environment in which the technologies, systems, and/or methods described herein may be implemented.



Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The detailed description provided below in connection with the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present examples may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth at least some of the functions of the examples and/or the sequence of steps for constructing and operating examples. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.
Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented in a computing environment, the environment described is provided as an example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of computing environments and the like.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example code failure proneness estimation (“CFPE”) system 100 along with example inputs 120, 130, and 140 and example outputs 110, 112, 114, and 116. System 100 is typically comprised of code metrics calculator 102, code churn calculator 104, statistical modeler 106, and historically variant metric feedback (“HVMF”) calculator 108. Elements 102, 104, 106, and 108 may be implemented as software modules, hardware modules, or any combination thereof. They may be implemented separately or in any combination or as part of another system or systems. The arrows shown interconnecting in the elements of system 100 FIG. 1 are examples of interactions and/or data flow between elements and are not intended as limiting. Other interactions and/or data flows may also exist.
Example code set version n 120 represents the code being analyzed for failure proneness. Such a code set is typically a collection of files, such as source or binary files or the like. Source files typically include source code, or code written in a format intended as the source for compilation or interpretation. Such source code may be written in an object-oriented language, a procedural language, a declarative language, an assembly language, or the like, or any combination thereof. Binary files typically include compiled code, machine code, binary machine code, intermediate code, machine-independent intermediate code, computer-executable code, or the like, or any combination thereof. In one example, code sets comprising binary files are preferable as they tend to more closely represent what a computer or the like executes.
In one example, code set 120 is comprised of between approximately 20 and 50 binary files. In other examples, code set 120 includes thousands of binary files. Any number of files may be used as code set 120 so long as the number of files provides a statistically significant set of code metrics. In general, a code set, such as code set 120, embodies a software product, feature, module, driver, or the like, or portion thereof. One code set, for example, may embody a particular version of an operating system or portion thereof. Another code set may embody a particular version of a word processor program or portion thereof.
Example code set version n−1 130 is typically a code set such as code set 120, but of a previous version of the software embodied in code set version n 120. For example, given a code set 120 of version 7 of an operating system, code set 130 may be of version 6 of the same operating system, or some other previous version. Code set 130 may also be referred to as a “baseline code set”. Such a baseline code set may not be available and may not be required by system 100.
Example historical datastore 140 typically includes baseline data associated with baseline code sets such as code set 130. Baseline data typically includes code metrics calculated from such baseline code sets. For example, given a version 4 word processor software product, such a datastore may include code metrics data for baseline codes sets embodying versions 1, 2 and 3 of the product. Such a historical datastore may not be available and may not be required by system 100. Datastore 140 may be any storage mechanism sufficient to maintain code metrics data and provide system 100 with access to code metrics data, and may or may not be implemented as a part of system 100.
Example code metrics calculator 102 typically accepts as input code set 120 and processes each file of the code set to calculate selected code metrics. Selected code metrics may be determined by a user of system 100 via any suitable interface, such a user being a person and/or another system or the like. In one example, records of failures of a previous version of the software, such as embodied by a corresponding baseline code set, are stored and each failure is analyzed and associated with one or more code metrics deemed an indication of the failure. Generally, such code metrics are used to form the selected set of code metrics.
Code metrics may be grouped, classified, and sub-classified in any suitable arrangement. In one example, such code metrics are classified as object oriented code metrics and non-object oriented code metrics, and are further classified as function metrics, class metrics, and module metrics, as shown in Table 1 herein below.








TABLE 1





Metric
Description







FunctionName
Indicates the undecorated name of a 



function.


FunctionAddress
Indicates the address of a function; helps 



distinguish two functions with the same 



undecorated name.


Paths
Indicates the number of paths for a given 



function.


Lines
Indicates the number of lines of code in a 



file.


Parameters
Indicates the number of parameters taken 



by a function. E.g.: void Foo(int a, int b); 



will return number 2 for the two 



parameters.


Locals
Indicates the number of local variables per 



function. This may be determined by 



binary analysis so compiler optimizations 



might report lesser number of local 



variables than defined in code.


Blocks & Arcs
Indicates the number of code blocks per 



function and number of arcs per function. 



A block, also known as a basic block, is set 



of contiguous instructions (code) in the 



physical layout of a binary that has exactly 



one entry point and one exit point. Calls, 



jumps, and branches mark the end of a



block. A block typically consists of 



multiple machine-code instructions. The 



arcs of a basic block specify the basic 



blocks that call the entry point of the 



block, and the basic blocks that are called 



by the exit point of the block. Thus, the 



arcs of a block are all possible execution 



paths through the block.


ReadCoupling
Indicates the number of global variables 



read by a function and thus coupled to the 



global variable through read.


WriteCoupling
Indicates the number of global variables 



written by a function and thus coupled to 



the global variable through write.


AddressCoupling
Indicates the global variables whose 



address is taken by a function. The 



function is coupled to the global variable 



as it takes the address of the variable.


ProcCoupling
Calculated using global variables. If a 



global variable is set in FunctionA( ) and is 



modified in FunctionB( ) and 



FunctionC( ); a coupling value of 2 is 



shown for FunctionA( ).


FanIn
Indicates the number of other functions 



calling a given function in a module.


FanOut
Indicates the number of other functions 



being called from a given function in a 



module.


Cyclomatic Complexity
Indicates a value for complexity. In one 



example, the formula for this is: e − n + 



2p, where e = number of edges, n = 



number of nodes, and p = number of 



unconnected parts of the graph. In another 



example, cyclomatic complexity is 



determined by looking at the conditionals 



and counting the blocks with more than 



one edge.


Methods
Indicates the number of methods in a class; 



this typically includes public, private and 



protected methods.


Inheritance Depth
Indicates the maximum depth of 



inheritance for a given class. This is 



typically determined by calculating the 



inheritance depth of each of the base 



classes and by taking the maximum 



inheritance depth.


Base Classes
Indicates the number of immediate base 



classes; this typically doesn't count the 



base classes through the inheritance 



hierarchy.


Coupling
Indicates coupling to other classes through: 



class member variables; function 



parameters; classes defined locally in class 



member function bodies; coupling through 



immediate base classes; coupling through 



return type. A class that is not visible



because of compiler optimization is 



typically not counted. Also a class is 



generally not counted twice; so if a class is 



coupled as a member variable and then 



through the function parameter; it is 



generally counted only once.


Class Member Coupling
Indicates the coupling to other classes 



through class data fields.


Function Local Coupling
Indicates the coupling to other classes 



through local variables defined in the stack 



of functions.


Function Params Coupling
Indicates the coupling to other classes 



through parameters that are passed into the 



function.


RetValue Coupling
Indicates the coupling to other classes 



through return value. E.g.: ClassA can 



return ClassB and there can be implicit 



conversions.


BaseClass Coupling
Indicates the coupling through base 



classes. E.g.: ClassC may inherit from 



ClassA and ClassB; in this example the 



coupling number will be 2.


Sub Classes
Indicates the number of classes directly 



inheriting from a given parent class in a 



module. This metric does not typically 



count classes with several inheritance. 



E.g.: ClassA is the base class of ClassB



which is the base class for ClassC. ClassA 



is flagged as containing one sub class and 



ClassB is flagged as containing one sub 



class.


PublicMethods
Indicates the number of class methods 



denoted as being public.


ProtectedMethods
Indicates the number of class methods 



denoted as being protected.


PrivateMethods
Indicates the number of class methods 



denoted as being private.


ClassDataMembers
Indicates the number of data fields present 



in the class excluding the methods.


PubDataMembers
Indicates the number of public data 



members in a given class.


ProtDataMembers
Indicates the number of protected data 



members in a given class.


PvtDataMembers
Indicates the number of private data 



members in a given class.


ModuleName
Indicates the name of the module for 



which metrics are being collected.


TotalFunctions
Indicates the number of functions found in 



the module.


TotalClasses
Indicates the number of classes found in 



the module.


MaxPaths
Indicates the maximum number of paths 



found in a function in the given module.


TotalPaths
Indicates the number of paths found in all 



functions in the given module.


MaxLines
Indicates the maximum number of lines 



found in a function in the given module.


TotalLines
Indicates the number of lines found in all 



functions in the given module.


MaxParameters
Indicates the maximum number of 



parameters in a function in the given 



module.


TotalParameters
Indicates the number of parameters found 



in all the functions in the given module.


MaxLocals
Indicates the maximum number of local 



variables found in a function in the given 



module.


TotalLocals
Indicates the number of locals found in all 



the functions in the given module.


MaxArcs
Indicates the maximum number of arcs 



found in a function in the given module.


TotalArcs
Indicates the number of arcs found in all 



the functions in the given module.


MaxBlocks
Indicates the maximum number of blocks 



found in a function in the given module.


TotalBlocks
Indicates the number of blocks found in all 



the functions in the given module.


MaxReadCoupling
Indicates the maximum coupling of global 



variables through read in a function in the 



given module.


TotalReadCoupling
Indicates the coupling of global variables 



through read using all the functions in the 



given module.


MaxWriteCoupling
Indicates the maximum coupling of global 



variables through write in a function in a 



given module.


TotalWriteCoupling
Indicates the coupling of global variables 



through write through all functions in the 



given module.


MaxAddrTaken
Indicates the coupling where the address of 



a global variable is taken in a function in a 



given module.


TotalAddrTaken
Indicates the coupling of global variables 



for all functions in a given module where 



the address of a global variable is taken.


MaxProcCoupling
Indicates the coupling between procedures 



through global variables; shows the 



function that has the maximum coupling to 



other functions in a given module.


TotalProcCoupling
Indicates the coupling between procedures 



counted as aggregated for all the functions 



in a given module.


MaxFanIn
Indicates the total number of other 



functions calling the given function in a 



given module; the maximum for a given 



function in a given module.


TotalFanIn
Indicates the Fanin that is accumulated for 



all functions in the given module.


MaxFanOut
Indicates the number of other functions 



that are being called from a given function 



in the given module. This metric gives the 



maximum such calls being made from a 



given function.


TotalMaxFanOut
Indicates the number of other functions 



being called from the given function in a 



given module; the maximum for a given 



function in a given module.


MaxComplexity
Indicates the maximum cyclomatic 



complexity found in a function in a given 



module.


TotalComplexity
Indicates the total cyclomatic complexity 



found in all the functions in a given 



module.


MaxClassMethods
Indicates the total number of methods in a 



given class compared to all the classes in a 



given module.


TotalClassMethods
Indicates the total number of class methods 



when aggregated over all the classes in a 



given module.


MaxInheritanceDepth
Indicates the maximum inheritance depth 



when looking at all the classes in a given 



module.


TotalInheritanceDepth
Indicates the total inheritance depth when 



combining all the classes in a given 



module.


MaxBaseClasses
Indicates the maximum number of base 



classes when looking at all the classes in a 



given module.


TotalBaseClasses
Indicates the total number of base classes 



when looking at all the classes in a given 



module.


MaxClassCoupling
Indicates the maximum class coupling for 



a given class when looking at all the 



classes in a given module.


TotalClassCoupling
Indicates the total number for coupling 



when looking at all the classes in a given 



module.


MaxClassMemberCoupling
Indicates the maximum coupling to other 



classes through class data fields.


TotalClassMemberCoupling
Indicates the sum of all data field coupling 



found in all classes in the module.


MaxFunctionLocalCoupling
Indicates the maximum coupling to other 



classes through local variables defined in 



the function stack found in all classes in a 



given module.


TotalFunctionLocalCoupling
Indicates the total function local coupling 



for all classes in the module.


TotalFunctionParamsCoupling
Indicates the coupling to other classes 



through parameters that are passed into the 



function.


MaxRetValueCoupling
Indicates the coupling to other classes 



through return value. E.g.: ClassA can 



return ClassB and there can be implicit 



conversions.


TotalRetValueCoupling
Indicates the total coupling to all the other 



classes through return value found for all 



the classes in the module.


MaxBaseClassCoupling
Indicates the coupling through base 



classes. E.g.: ClassC may inherit from 



ClassA and ClassB; in this case the 



coupling number will be two. The 



maximum value of such coupling is 



returned through this metric.


TotalBaseClassCoupling
Indicates the total coupling through bases 



classes when aggregated for all the classes 



in the module.


MaxSubClasses
Indicates the maximum number of sub 



classes given a class when looking at all 



the classes in a given module.


TotalSubClasses
Indicates the total number of sub classes 



when looking at all the classes in a given 



module.


MaxPublicMethods
Indicates the maximum number of public 



methods in a given class when looking at 



all the classes in a given module.


TotalPublicMethods
T Indicates the he total number of public 



methods when looking at all the classes in 



a given module.


MaxProtectedMethods
Indicates the maximum number of 



protected methods when looking at all the 



classes in a given module.


TotalProtectedMethods
Indicates the total number of protected 



methods when aggregated for all the 



classes in a given module.


MaxPrivateMethods
Indicates the maximum number of private 



methods when looking at all the classes in 



a given module.


TotalPrivateMethods
Indicates the total number of private 



methods when looking at all the classes in 



a given module.


MaxClassDataMembers
Indicates the maximum number of data 



members for a given class in a given 



module.


TotalClassDataMembers
Indicates the total number of class data 



members when aggregated across an entire 



module.


MaxPubDataMembers
Indicates the maximum number of public 



data members for a given class in a given 



module.


TotalPubDataMembers
Indicates the total number of public data 



members for all the classes in a given 



module.


MaxProtDataMembers
Indicates the maximum number of 



protected data members for a given class in 



a given module


TotalProtDataMembers
Indicates the total number of protected 



data members for all the classes in a given 



module.


MaxPvtDataMembers
Indicates the maximum number of private 



data members for a given class in a given 



module.


TotalPvtDataMembers
Indicates the total number of private data 



members for all the classes in a given 



module.


TotalCyclicClassCoupling
Indicates the complexity of a module. 



Cyclic class coupling typically measures, 



“a depends on b” and “b depends on a”. It 



may count all the cycles in the class 



dependency graph.


TotalGlobalVariables
Indicates the total number of global 



variables present in the module; is 



calculated for the entire module.









Table 1 provides example code metrics that are not intended to be limiting. Any code metrics deemed relevant or useful by a user of system 100 may be employed. In general, the specific code metrics available for selection, the selected code metrics, and the methods for calculating the selected code metrics may not be critical to the present invention, but may be critical to the quality of code failure proneness estimation for a particular code set. Code metrics are typically selected so as to provide a meaningful estimation for the code set being evaluated, and are generally selected based on failures observed in a previous version of the software being evaluated.
Example code churn calculator 104 typically accepts as input code set 120 and baseline code set 130 and calculates measures and metrics of code churn, or various degrees of change in code set 120 relative to baseline code set 130. In one example, calculator 104 compares both input codes sets to determine measures representing New Blocks, Changed Blocks, Unchanged Blocks, and Deleted Blocks, where a block is generally a contiguous set of instructions in binary format. In an alternative example, lines of code (versus blocks) are used when analyzing code sets comprised of source files.
A New Block is typically defined as a contiguous set of instructions in code set 120 that did not exist in baseline code set 130. A Changed Block is typically defined as a contiguous set of instructions in code set 120 that corresponds to but is different in some manner from the corresponding block in baseline code set 130. An Unchanged Block is typically defined as a contiguous set of instructions in code set 120 that corresponds to and is identical to the corresponding block in baseline code set 130. A Deleted Block is typically defined as a contiguous set of instructions in baseline code set 130 for which the corresponding block does not exist in code set 120.
If no baseline code set is available then the code churn measures are typically set to zero by calculator 104. Further, the code churn measures may be normalized into code churn metrics M1, M2, and M3 as defined herein below.

M1=New Blocks+Changed Blocks/Total Blocks

The M1 code churn metric quantifies code churn due to new code being added to code set 120 relative to baseline code set 130. A higher value for M1 typically indicates a higher potential defect density for the code set file being analyzed.

M2=Deleted Blocks/Total Blocks

The M2 code churn metric quantifies code churn due to deleted code, or code deleted from code set 120 that existed in baseline code set 130. A higher value for M2 typically indicates a higher potential defect density for the code set file being analyzed.

M3=New Blocks+Changed Blocks/Deleted Blocks

The M3 code churn metric quantifies new development in code set 120 relative to baseline code set 130; that is, code churn approximately due to changes other than for bug fixes to the code. A higher value for M3 typically indicates a higher degree of new development in code set 120 relative to baseline code set 130 for the code set file being analyzed. If Deleted Blocks equals zero, then typically an upper bound value for M3 is determined statistically.
Example statistical modeler 106 typically accepts as inputs code metrics, such as from code metrics calculator 102, and code churn metrics, such as from code churn calculator 104, and estimates failure proneness output 110. In one example, statistical modeler 106 typically uses a logistical regression technique to estimate a probability of code failure proneness. Such failure proneness is a probability measure between 0 and 1 and is defined as the probability that software embodied by code set 120 will fail in operation. The higher the failure proneness, the higher the probability of experiencing a software failure.
Modeler 106 typically builds a statistical model or logistical regression model for estimating failure proneness 110 based on a logistical equation of the general form:




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where Π is the probability of failure proneness 110; c is constant; a1, a2, etc are regression coefficients calculated from baseline code set 130 as stored in datastore 140; and M1, M2, etc are the corresponding code and/or code churn metrics selected and calculated from code set 120. Note that the terms M1, M2, M3, etc., do not necessarily represent any particular metric described herein, but represent metrics selected by statistical modeling for a specific code set. Such modeling involves correlation of code failures to code metrics. In one example, the constant and regression coefficients are determined using conventional statistical analysis system (“SAS”) software. Failure proneness 100 typically represents the probability of failure for the software embodied by code set 120 as opposed to that of any one file from the code set.
Example HVMF calculator 108 typically accepts as inputs code metrics, such as from code metrics calculator 102, and code churn metrics, such as from code churn calculator 104, as well as corresponding baseline code metrics from datastore 140 and calculates bounds 112, HVMF factor 114, and classifications 116. For each calculated code metric (including code churn), calculator 108 determines a statistical lower bound, mean bound, and upper bound (bounds 112) based on the corresponding baseline code metrics. If the code metric is <=the mean bound, it is typically classified as green (low estimated risk of failure). If the code metric is > the mean bound and <the upper bound, then the metric is typically classified as yellow (medium estimated risk of failure). And if the code metric is >=the upper bound, it is typically classified as red (high estimated risk of failure). The HVMF factor 114 is typically calculated as the sum of all red metrics divided by the total number of calculated metrics. One example set of outputs of CFPE system 100 in a display format is shown in connection with FIG. 3.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example method 200 for estimating the failure proneness of a code set. The code set may include source or binary files; binary files are considered in this example. Block 202 typically indicates the beginning of the method for processing each file in the code set. Method 200 typically continues at block 204 for each file in the code set. The code set described in connection with FIG. 2 corresponds to code set 120 of FIG. 1. The baseline code set described in connection with FIG. 2 corresponds to baseline code set 130 of FIG. 1. The previous version or baseline version of software described in connection with FIG. 2 corresponds generally to the previous version of software embodied in baseline code set 130 of FIG. 1.
For each file in the code set, block 204 typically indicates calculating selected code metrics. In one example, about 10 to 15 code metrics are selected for evaluation of a code set. The metrics are typically selected based on failure data from previous version of the software embodied by the code set, such as a baseline version. The code metrics selected are typically considered by a user to be the most relevant indicators of software quality, failure proneness, and/or the like. Once the code metrics for the file are calculated, method 200 typically continues at block 206.
For each file in the code set, block 206 indicates determining if a previous version or baseline code set exists. If no baseline code set file exists corresponding to the current code set file, then method 200 typically continues at block 210. If a baseline code set file does exist corresponding to the current code set file, method 200 typically continues at block 208.
For each file in the code set for which a corresponding baseline code set file exists, block 208 indicates calculating code churn metrics. In one example, code churn metrics are calculated as described in connection with code churn calculator 104 of FIG. 1. Once the code churn metrics are calculated, method 200 typically continues at block 210.
For each file in the code set, block 210 indicates checking to see if there are more unprocessed files in the code set. If there is another unprocessed file in the code set, method 200 typically continues at block 204 with the unprocessed file. Otherwise, method 200 typically continues at block 212 and performs a logistical regression for the entire code set.
Block 212 indicates applying a logistical regression model to the code set as indicated by blocks 213 and 214. Block 213 indicates applying the calculated code metrics to a logistical regression model. In one example, this may be done as described in connection with statistical modeler 106 of FIG. 1. Block 214 indicates calculating the failure proneness of code set. In one example, this may be done as described in connection with statistical modeler 106 of FIG. Once the logistical regression is complete, method 200 typically continues at block 216.
Block 216 indicates calculating statistical bounds and an HVMF factor based on the code set as indicated by blocks 217 and 218. Block 217 indicates calculating statistical upper, mean, and lower bounds based on a baseline code set corresponding to the code set. In one example, the statistical bounds are calculated and the code metrics of the codes set classified as described in connection with HVMF calculator 108 of FIG. 1. Block 218 indicates calculating an HVMF factor for the code set. In one example, the HVMF factor is calculated as described in connection with HVMF calculator 108 of FIG. 1. Once the statistical bounds are calculated, the code metrics are classified, and the HVMF factor is calculated, method 200 is done as indicated by block 220.
FIG. 3 is a screen shot 300 showing an example output of an example CFPE system. The output of a CFPE system, such as system 100 of FIG. 1, and/or the output of a code failure estimation method, such as method 200 of FIG. 2, may take any form suitable to communicate relevant information to a user. Screen shot 300 is intended only as an example and shall not be taken as limiting.
Line 310 indicates an example name of a file being evaluated, which in this example is: exception1.exe. Such a file may be one of a plurality of file forming a code set being evaluated; that is, for which a code failure proneness probability is being estimated.
Line 320 indicates an example failure proneness probability value for the file being evaluated. In another example, such a probability may be displayed for the entire code set and/or for each of the files of the code set. Such a probability generally indicates an estimated failure proneness during execution.
Line 330 indicates an example HVMF factor for the file being evaluated. In another example, such a factor may be displayed for the entire code set and/or for each of the files of the code set. Such a factor generally provides an indication of risk of failure during execution.
Lines 340 indicate the selected code metrics calculated for the file being evaluated. In general, the selected metrics will be calculated for every file in a code set. In this example, a classification of green is displayed for each code metric. In alternate examples, selected code metrics and their corresponding classifications may be displayed for the entire code set and/or for each of the files of the code set. Such classifications provide an indication of risk of failure during execution.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example computing environment 400 in which the technologies, systems, and/or methods described herein may be implemented. A suitable computing environment may be implemented with numerous general purpose or special purpose systems. Examples of well known systems may include, but are not limited to, cell phones, personal digital assistants (“PDA”), personal computers (“PC”), hand-held or laptop devices, microprocessor-based systems, multiprocessor systems, servers, workstations, consumer electronic devices, set-top boxes, Internet services, web portals, and the like.
Computing environment 400 typically includes a general-purpose computing system in the form of a computing device 401 coupled to various components, such as peripheral devices 402, 403, 404 and the like. System 400 may couple to various other components, such as input devices 403, including voice recognition, touch pads, buttons, keyboards and/or pointing devices, such as a mouse or trackball, via one or more input/output (“I/O”) interfaces 412. The components of computing device 401 may include one or more processors (including central processing units (“CPU”), graphics processing units (“GPU”), microprocessors (“μP”), and the like) 407, system memory 409, and a system bus 408 that typically couples the various components. Processor 407 typically processes or executes various computer-executable instructions to control the operation of computing device 401 and to communicate with other electronic and/or computing devices, systems or environment (not shown) via various communications connections such as a network connection 414 or the like. System bus 408 represents any number of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a serial bus, an accelerated graphics port, a processor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures, and the like.
System memory 409 may include computer readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (“RAM”), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (“ROM”) or flash memory (“FLASH”). A basic input/output system (“BIOS”) may be stored in non-volatile or the like. System memory 409 typically stores data, computer-executable instructions and/or program modules comprising computer-executable instructions that are immediately accessible to and/or presently operated on by one or more of the processors 407.
Mass storage devices 404 and 410 may be coupled to computing device 401 or incorporated into computing device 401 via coupling to the system bus. Such mass storage devices 404 and 410 may include non-volatile RAM, a magnetic disk drive which reads from and/or writes to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”) 405, and/or an optical disk drive that reads from and/or writes to a non-volatile optical disk such as a CD ROM, DVD ROM 406. Alternatively, a mass storage device, such as hard disk 410, may include non-removable storage medium. Other mass storage devices may include memory cards, memory sticks, tape storage devices, and the like.
Any number of computer programs, files, data structures, and the like may be stored in mass storage 410, other storage devices 404, 405, 406 and system memory 409 (typically limited by available space) including, by way of example and not limitation, operating systems, application programs, data files, directory structures, computer-executable instructions, and the like. Mass storage 410 and/or corresponding media, other storage devices 404, 405, 406 and system memory 409 may each be referred to as a computer storage medium. The term “computer storage medium” and the like as used herein refer to a statutory article of manufacture that is not a signal or carrier wave per se.
Output components or devices, such as display device 402, may be coupled to computing device 401, typically via an interface such as a display adapter 411. Output device 402 may be a liquid crystal display (“LCD”). Other example output devices may include printers, audio outputs, voice outputs, cathode ray tube (“CRT”) displays, tactile devices or other sensory output mechanisms, or the like. Output devices may enable computing device 401 to interact with human operators or other machines, systems, computing environments, or the like. A user may interface with computing environment 400 via any number of different I/O devices 403 such as a touch pad, buttons, keyboard, mouse, joystick, game pad, data port, and the like. These and other I/O devices may be coupled to processor 407 via I/O interfaces 412 which may be coupled to system bus 408, and/or may be coupled by other interfaces and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, universal serial bus (“USB”), fire wire, infrared (“IR”) port, and the like.
Computing device 401 may operate in a networked environment via communications connections to one or more remote computing devices through one or more cellular networks, wireless networks, local area networks (“LAN”), wide area networks (“WAN”), storage area networks (“SAN”), the Internet, radio links, optical links and the like. Computing device 401 may be coupled to a network via network adapter 413 or the like, or, alternatively, via a modem, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) link, integrated services digital network (“ISDN”) link, Internet link, wireless link, or the like.
Communications connection 414, such as a network connection, typically provides a coupling to communications media, such as a network. Communications media (as opposed to computer storage media) typically provide computer-readable and computer-executable instructions, data structures, files, program modules and other data using a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. The term “modulated data signal” typically means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communications media may include wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wired connection or the like, and wireless media, such as acoustic, radio frequency, infrared, or other wireless communications mechanisms.
Power source 490, such as a battery or a power supply, typically provides power for portions or all of computing environment 400. In the case of the computing environment 400 being a mobile device or portable device or the like, power source 490 may be a battery. Alternatively, in the case computing environment 400 is a desktop computer or server or the like, power source 490 may be a power supply designed to connect to an alternating current (“AC”) source, such as via a wall outlet.
Some mobile devices may not include many of the components described in connection with FIG. 4. For example, an electronic badge may be comprised of a coil of wire along with a simple processing unit 407 or the like, the coil configured to act as power source 490 when in proximity to a card reader device or the like. Such a coil may also be configure to act as an antenna coupled to the processing unit 407 or the like, the coil antenna capable of providing a form of communication between the electronic badge and the card reader device. Such communication may not involve networking, but may alternatively be general or special purpose communications via telemetry, point-to-point, RF, IR, audio, or other means. An electronic card may not include display 402, I/O device 403, or many of the other components described in connection with FIG. 4. Other mobile devices that may not include many of the components described in connection with FIG. 4, by way of example and not limitation, include electronic bracelets, electronic tags, implantable devices, and the like.
Those skilled in the art will realize that storage devices utilized to provide computer-readable and computer-executable instructions and data can be distributed over a network. For example, a remote computer or storage device may store computer-readable and computer-executable instructions in the form of software applications and data. A local computer may access the remote computer or storage device via the network and download part or all of a software application or data and may execute any computer-executable instructions. Alternatively, the local computer may download pieces of the software or data as needed, or distributively process the software by executing some of the instructions at the local computer and some at remote computers and/or devices.
Those skilled in the art will also realize that, by utilizing conventional techniques, all or portions of the software's computer-executable instructions may be carried out by a dedicated electronic circuit such as a digital signal processor (“DSP”), programmable logic array (“PLA”), discrete circuits, and the like. The term “electronic apparatus” may include computing devices or consumer electronic devices comprising any software, firmware or the like, or electronic devices or circuits comprising no software, firmware or the like.
The term “firmware” typically refers to executable instructions, code, data, applications, programs, or the like maintained in an electronic device such as a ROM. The term “software” generally refers to executable instructions, code, data, applications, programs, or the like maintained in or on any form of computer-readable media. The term “computer-readable media” typically refers to system memory, storage devices and their associated media, and the like.
In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the present invention and the forgoing examples may be applied, it should be recognized that the examples described herein are meant to be illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the invention as described herein contemplates all such embodiments as may come within the scope of the following claims and any equivalents thereto.

## Claims

1. A method comprising:
calculating, by a computing device, churn metrics that indicate a degree of change between a first version of code and a second version of the code;
calculating, by the computing device for the second version and based on input code metrics that include the churn metrics, second metrics determined from the second version, and first metrics that correspond to the churn metrics and the second metrics that are determined from the first version, a historical variant metric feedback factor that is a sum divided by a total number of the input code metrics, where the sum is a count of each of the input code metrics that exceed a statistical upper bound that is based on the each of the input code metrics' corresponding first metric; and

performing, by the computing device and based on the second metrics or on the churn metrics, a logistical regression resulting in a code failure proneness probability for the second version.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the churn metrics include M1 that represents new contiguous code in the second version that is not in the first version and contiguous code in the second version that has changed from that in the first version, relative to code in the first version.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the churn metrics include M2 that represents contiguous code in the first version that is not in the second version, relative to code in the first version.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the churn metrics include M3 that represents new contiguous code in the second version that is not in the first version and contiguous code in the second version that has changed from that in the first version, relative to contiguous code in the first version that is not in the second version.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the code failure proneness probability for the second version is based on the performing the logistical regression using M1, M2, and M3.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining for each of the first metrics its corresponding statistical upper bound.

7. At least one computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
calculating churn metrics that indicate a degree of change between a first version of code and a second version of the code;
calculating, for the second version and based on input code metrics that include the churn metrics, second metrics determined from the second version, and first metrics that correspond to the churn metrics and the second metrics that are determined from the first version, a historical variant metric feedback factor that is a sum divided by a total number of the input code metrics, where the sum is a count of each of the input code metrics that exceed a statistical upper bound that is based on the each of the input code metrics' corresponding first metric; and

performing, based on the second metrics or on the churn metrics, a logistical regression resulting in a code failure proneness probability for the second version.

8. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 wherein the churn metrics include M1 that represents new contiguous code in the second version that is not in the first version and contiguous code in the second version that has changed from that in the first version, relative to code in the first version.

9. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the churn metrics include M2 that represents contiguous code in the first version that is not in the second version, relative to code in the first version.

10. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the churn metrics include M3 that represents new contiguous code in the second version that is not in the first version and contiguous code in the second version that has changed from that in the first version, relative to contiguous code in the first version that is not in the second version.

11. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the code failure proneness probability for the second version is based on the performing the logistical regression using M1, M2, and M3.

12. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 further comprising determining for each of the first metrics its corresponding statistical upper bound.

13. A system comprising:
a computing device;
a code churn calculator implemented at least in part by the computing device and configured for calculating churn metrics that indicate a degree of change between a first version of code and a second version of the code;
a historical variant metric feedback calculator implemented at least in part by the computer and configured for calculating, for the second version and based on input code metrics that include the churn metrics, second metrics determined from the second version, and first metrics that correspond to the churn metrics and the second metrics that are determined from the first version, a historical variant metric feedback factor that is a sum divided by a total number of the input code metrics, where the sum is a count of each of the input code metrics that exceed a statistical upper bound that is based on the each of the input code metrics' corresponding first metric; and
a statistical modeler implemented at least in part by the computing device and configured for performing, based on the second metrics or on the churn metrics, a logistical regression resulting in a code failure proneness probability for the second version.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the churn metrics include M1 that represents new contiguous code in the second version that is not in the first version and contiguous code in the second version that has changed from that in the first version, relative to code in the first version.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the churn metrics include M2 that represents contiguous code in the first version that is not in the second version, relative to code in the first version.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the churn metrics include M3 that represents new contiguous code in the second version that is not in the first version and contiguous code in the second version that has changed from that in the first version, relative to contiguous code in the first version that is not in the second version.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the code failure proneness probability for the second version is based on the performing the logistical regression using M1, M2, and M3.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising determining for each of the first metrics its corresponding statistical upper bound.