To ensure software maintenance is carried out effectively, it is essential that there is a full understanding of code functionality and the current quality.
Benefits of using LDRA Testbed
| |
- Graphical code visualisation for easier understanding
- Provides automatic code documentation
- Traces variable dependancies
- Provides maintainability metrics
- Highlights redundant code
- Identifies infeasible code
|
|
Features of Software Maintenance
Code Visualisation
The LDRA tool suite provides an invaluable aid to software maintenance by enabling the visualisation of source code through Callgraphs and Flowgraphs. This leads to a quicker understanding of the unit or system code structure enabling changes to be made without introducing errors.
Documentation
LDRA Testbed automatically produces accurate and up-to-date detailed documentation which includes Callgraphs, Flowgraphs and cross-reference listings. This documentation can be imported into word processing packages or included in code comments. Accurate and easily generated documentation ensures that code can be understood, enhanced, maintained and re-documented throughout its lifecycle.
Possible activities in this process would be the removal of unreachable and infeasible code, simplification of procedure interfaces, restructuring, the addition of more comments, fault removal and improved test data generation.
Maintainability
LDRA Testbed’s quality metrics give an important insight into the current state of the software. Complexity, test path density, structure, comments, dataflow anomalies and other valuable information highlight areas of software that may need more attention.
Data Tracking
LDRA Testbed analyses the interdependencies of data items through the unit or systems source code on a procedure-by-procedure basis for all paths. Analysis reports give a break down of the functanality of each variable. This in-depth analysis enhances confidence in making source code changes.
‘LDRA Testbed has made our testing process easier. It has saved us time. The tool is very helpful when we must provide evidence that we have carried out our testing and that coverage levels have been achieved. The PC version has integrated effectively into our process and has made producing evidence easier.’
Trevor Hughes, Smiths Industries
|
