SHF: Medium: Collaborative Research: An Economics-Based Framework for Assessing Software Modularization Decisions

这项拨款的研究目的，是为软件模块化活动在软件开发和维护过程中的经济影响提供科学基础。软件开发过程中的一个难题是何时执行软件代码重构来重组代码以实现更好的模块化，以降低复杂性、提高代码可读性并实现其他所谓的非功能属性。重构等模块化活动的成本是巨大的和直接的，而好处在很大程度上是无形的，无形的和长期的。 然而，延迟重构会导致模块化衰退，这被归咎于生产力显着降低，操作失败，甚至取消项目。知道何时重构是一个长期存在的、重要的和困难的问题。 本研究将进行广泛的实证研究，以建立软件项目参数和软件模块化决策之间的定量关系。基于经验数据，该项目将开发模块化违规检测技术，以定位模块化债务，并结合基于Datar-Mathews期权估值方法的Monte Carlo模拟来评估拟议的模块化活动。这些经济决策的科学基础将有助于更好地了解模块化活动的成本和效益，目的是提供更好地支持这些决策的工具。这项研究将由一个具有软件工程和经济学专业知识的跨学科研究人员团队进行。

The research goal of this grant is to provide a scientific foundation for the economic implications of software modularization activities during software development and maintenance. A difficult question during software development is when to perform software code refactoring to restructure the code to achieve better modularity for the purpose of improving reducing complexity, improving code readability, and achieving other, so-called nonfunctional properties. The costs of modularization activities such as refactoring is significant and immediate, and the benefits are largely invisible, intangible, and long-term. However, delaying refactoring causes modularity decay, which is blamed for significantly reduced productivity, operational failures and even canceled projects. Knowing when to refactor is a long-standing, important and difficult question. This research will conduct extensive empirical studies to establish quantitative relationships between software project parameters and software modularity decisions. Based on the empirical data, the project will develop modularity violation detection techniques to locate modularity debts and evaluate a proposed modularization activity by combining Monte Carlo simulation based on Datar-Mathews option valuation method. These scientific foundations for economic decision-making will lead to a better understanding of the costs and benefits of modularization activities, with a goal of providing tools that will better support such decisions. The research will be performed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in software engineering and economics.