In Search of Metrics to Guide Developer-Based Refactoring Recommendations

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Robredo, Mikel, Esposito, Matteo, Palomba, Fabio, Peñaloza, Rafael, Lenarduzzi, Valentina
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Robredo, Mikel
Esposito, Matteo
Palomba, Fabio
Peñaloza, Rafael
Lenarduzzi, Valentina
author_facet Robredo, Mikel
Esposito, Matteo
Palomba, Fabio
Peñaloza, Rafael
Lenarduzzi, Valentina
contents Context. Source code refactoring is a well-established approach to improving source code quality without compromising its external behavior. Motivation. The literature described the benefits of refactoring, yet its application in practice is threatened by the high cost of time, resource allocation, and effort required to perform it continuously. Providing refactoring recommendations closer to what developers perceive as relevant may support the broader application of refactoring in practice and drive prioritization efforts. Aim. In this paper, we aim to foster the design of a developer-based refactoring recommender, proposing an empirical study into the metrics that study the developer's willingness to apply refactoring operations. We build upon previous work describing the developer's motivations for refactoring and investigate how product and process metrics may grasp those motivations. Expected Results. We will quantify the value of product and process metrics in grasping developers' motivations to perform refactoring, thus providing a catalog of metrics for developer-based refactoring recommenders to use.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_18169
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle In Search of Metrics to Guide Developer-Based Refactoring Recommendations
Robredo, Mikel
Esposito, Matteo
Palomba, Fabio
Peñaloza, Rafael
Lenarduzzi, Valentina
Software Engineering
Context. Source code refactoring is a well-established approach to improving source code quality without compromising its external behavior. Motivation. The literature described the benefits of refactoring, yet its application in practice is threatened by the high cost of time, resource allocation, and effort required to perform it continuously. Providing refactoring recommendations closer to what developers perceive as relevant may support the broader application of refactoring in practice and drive prioritization efforts. Aim. In this paper, we aim to foster the design of a developer-based refactoring recommender, proposing an empirical study into the metrics that study the developer's willingness to apply refactoring operations. We build upon previous work describing the developer's motivations for refactoring and investigate how product and process metrics may grasp those motivations. Expected Results. We will quantify the value of product and process metrics in grasping developers' motivations to perform refactoring, thus providing a catalog of metrics for developer-based refactoring recommenders to use.
title In Search of Metrics to Guide Developer-Based Refactoring Recommendations
topic Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.18169