Refactoring class hierarchies with KABA

ABSTRACT

KABA is an innovative system for refactoring Java class hierar-chies. It uses the Snelting/Tip algorithm [13] in order to determine a behavior-preserving refactoring which is optimal with respect to a given set of client programs. KABA can be based on dynamic as well as static program analysis. The static variant will preserve program behavior for all possible input values; the dynamic version guarantees preservation of behavior for all runs in a given test suite. KABA offers automatic refactoring as well as manual refactoring using a dedicated editor.

In this contribution, we recapitulate the Snelting/Tip algorithm, present the new dynamic version, and explain new extensions which allow to handle full Java. We then present five case studies which discuss the KABA refactoring proposals for programs such as javac and antlr. KABA proved that javac does not need refactoring, but generated semantics-based refactoring proposals for antlr.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.7 Distribution, Maintenance, and Enhancement
          Subjects: Restructuring, reverse engineering, and reengineering

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features
          Subjects: Classes and objects; Inheritance

  F. Theory of Computation
  F.3 LOGICS AND MEANINGS OF PROGRAMS
      F.3.2 Semantics of Programming Languages
          Subjects: Program analysis

Keywords:
refactoring