Studying software evolution using artefacts' shared information content

摘要: In order to study software evolution, it is necessary measure artefacts representative of project releases. If we consider the process evolution be copying with subsequent modification, then, by analogy, placing emphasis on what remains same between releases will lead focusing similarity artefacts. At time, artefacts-stored digitally as binary strings-are all information. This paper introduces a new method for measuring in terms artefacts' shared information content. A value representing quantity artefact pairs produced using calculation based Kolmogorov complexity. Similarity values are then collated over software's form map quantifying change through lack similarity. The has general applicability: can disregard otherwise salient features such programming paradigm, language or application domain because considers purely mathematically justified concept Three open-source projects analysed show method's utility. Preliminary experiments udev and git verify measurement projects' evolutions. An experiment ArgoUML validates measured against experimental data from other studies.