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A nesting level complexity measure

Published:01 September 1982Publication History
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Abstract

Two well-publicized program complexity measures are software science and cyclomatic complexity. Three areas where these measures do not always follow our intuitive notions of complexity are: structured vs unstructured programs, nested vs sequential predicates, and the use of case statements. This paper defines a nesting level complexity measure that punishes unstructuredness, and the nesting of predicates, and rewards the use of case statements. Examples are given where the nesting level complexity agrees with intuitive rankings of program structures where software science, cyclomatic complexity, and their suggested refinements do not.

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  • Published in

    cover image ACM SIGPLAN Notices
    ACM SIGPLAN Notices  Volume 17, Issue 9
    September 1982
    88 pages
    ISSN:0362-1340
    EISSN:1558-1160
    DOI:10.1145/947955
    Issue’s Table of Contents

    Copyright © 1982 Author

    Publisher

    Association for Computing Machinery

    New York, NY, United States

    Publication History

    • Published: 1 September 1982

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