A Metrics Suite for Version Management

In existing version management systems, different versions of an artifact are distinguished between the designs that are same and that are different based on various types of attributes of an artifact. The attributes1 that govern the design of an artifact are called key attributes (e.g. interface). The attributes that do not govern the design of an artifact are called non-key attributes (descriptive attributes). Changes in key attributes lead to new design version of an artifact and changes in non-key attributes lead to design equivalents. In present models, designer is responsible for categorizing the artifacts’ attributes into key and non-key attributes. More over the division is performed conceptually. Therefore this paper is aimed at proposing a metrics suite that can be used to categorize the attributes as key and non-key attributes. This metrics suite is developed based on the design complexities of the attributes of an artifact. The proposed metrics have been validated formally using Weyuker’s principles. Empirical validation has been provided by taking different versions of Restricted Focus Viewer (RFV) software as a case study.