The impact of static-dynamic coupling on remodularization

ABSTRACT

We explore the concept of static-dynamic coupling--the degree to which changes in a program's static modular structure imply changes to its dynamic structure. This paper investigates the impact of static-dynamic coupling in a programming language on the effort required to evolve the coarse modular structure of programs written in that language. We performed a series of remodularization case studies in both Java and SubjectJ. SubjectJ is designed to be similar to Java, but have strictly less static-dynamic coupling. Our results include quantitative measures-time taken and number of bugs introduced--as well as a more subjective qualitative analysis of the remodularization process. All results point in the same direction and suggest that static-dynamic coupling causes substantial accidental complexity for the remodularization of Java programs.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: Evolutionary prototyping

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: Modules and interfaces
      D.2.6 Programming Environments
          Subjects: Integrated environments
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features
          Subjects: Modules, packages

General Terms:
Experimentation, Languages

Keywords:
hyperslices, language design, refactoring, remodularization, static-dynamic coupling, subject-oriented programming