A quality assessment model for Java code

TL;DR: A quality model that can be used directly on code, and thus during light development and in rapid development cycles is described, based on nonquantifiable attributes of quality that then are related to specific measures found using a structured method.

Abstract: Quality measures are extremely difficult to quantify because they depend on many parameters and factors, some of which cannot be identified or measured readily. Java is the language of choice for interoperable code segments that constitute an effective interface layer between Web servers and the user. Realizing those code segments, however, is a challenge. Reusability criteria do not apply. This paper describes a quality model that can be used directly on code, and thus during light development and in rapid development cycles. The model is based on nonquantifiable attributes of quality that then are related to specific measures found using a structured method. The measures identify statistical clusters that can be used to categorize the quality of each Java class file. The relation between quality factors and measures is proven at the mathematical level, using the representational theory of measurement, and then at the empirical level, using an independent assessment. The preliminary results collected seem to indicate that the quality model is effective in classifying Java programs. An important indication can then be obtained by the quality analysis.