| shelley@osel.netkonect.co.uk 2005-07-24, 8:50 pm |
| Gustav Basso wrote:
> Is there a formal way of determining how "good" a piece of code is to
> perform its intended tasks? (A numerical value for its conformity)
>
> Obvious question to follow is how to define (formally) its intended tasks?
>
> Any reference, thoughts will be appreciated.
>
> Gustav
You have suggested the approach - formal (mathematical/logical) methods
- a provably complete and correct statement of what is required of the
code, is required. Use this as the basis for code analysis and test,
and measures of test results.
(That's for functionality of course. As for performance - an attributes
can be specified well (but not formally), and measured, but selection
and defining a complete set of attriubutes is difficult and usually
based on an arbitrary model. This is usually done for a complete system
where emergent properties can be important.)
As for the numbers - they will be impled by the formal spec. There are
no absolute measures - you wouldn't ask the same question of a physical
item.
|