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Java Classes with “-Er” and “-Utils” Suffixes: Complexity Analysis

Q: Why do utility classes and functor classes exhibit higher complexity and lower cohesion?

Utility classes and functor classes tend to exhibit higher complexity and lower cohesion due to several reasons. Firstly, utility classes often encapsulate a wide range of functionalities that are not directly related to the core purpose of the class, leading to a lack of cohesion. These classes become a dumping ground for various methods that do not have a strong logical connection, resulting in decreased cohesion. Similarly, functor classes, which are designed to execute operations on behalf of other classes and amalgamate multiple responsibilities, also contribute to higher complexity and lower cohesion. These classes often take on diverse tasks, making them bulky and complicated. As a result, the methods within functor classes may not be strongly connected to each other, further reducing cohesion. Moreover, the presence of proxy methods in both utility and functor classes adds to the decrease in cohesion. Proxy methods act as intermediaries between the caller and the actual functionality, introducing an additional layer of complexity and reducing the clarity and coherence of the codebase. This indirect approach to method invocation can lead to a tangled web of dependencies and interactions, making the code harder to understand and maintain. In essence, the accumulation of unrelated functionalities, the use of proxy methods, and the amalgamation of diverse responsibilities in utility and functor classes contribute to their higher complexity and lower cohesion, ultimately impacting the overall quality of software design.

Q: How do proxy methods contribute to the decrease in cohesion in classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes?

Proxy methods play a significant role in the decrease in cohesion observed in classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes. These methods act as intermediaries between the caller and the actual functionality, often serving to simplify the interface for users by providing default values or handling certain arguments. While proxy methods may seem convenient on the surface, they introduce a layer of indirection that can obscure the direct relationships between components in the code. In classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes, proxy methods are commonly used to streamline method calls and provide a more user-friendly interface. However, this convenience comes at the cost of cohesion, as proxy methods tend to abstract away the true nature of the interactions between different parts of the code. Instead of directly invoking the necessary methods, developers may rely on proxy methods to handle the communication, leading to a less cohesive structure. Furthermore, the presence of proxy methods can create a web of dependencies and interactions that are not immediately apparent from the class interface. This hidden complexity can make it challenging for developers to understand the flow of data and control within the class, further reducing cohesion. By introducing an additional layer of abstraction, proxy methods contribute to the overall decrease in cohesion in classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes.

Q: How can addressing issues with functor classes improve the overall quality of software design?

Addressing issues with functor classes is crucial for improving the overall quality of software design. By taking steps to enhance the cohesion and reduce the complexity of functor classes, developers can create more maintainable, readable, and extensible codebases. Here are some strategies to improve the quality of software design in the context of functor classes: Refactor for Cohesion: Identify and refactor methods within functor classes to ensure that they are logically related and serve a cohesive purpose. By restructuring the class to have a clear and focused functionality, cohesion can be improved. Reduce Dependency on Proxy Methods: Minimize the use of proxy methods in functor classes to streamline the code and make the interactions more direct. By eliminating unnecessary layers of abstraction, developers can enhance the clarity and coherence of the codebase. Modularize Responsibilities: Break down the responsibilities of functor classes into smaller, more manageable modules. By dividing the functionalities into distinct units, developers can improve the maintainability and readability of the code. Adhere to Object-Oriented Principles: Ensure that functor classes adhere to object-oriented design principles, such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. By following best practices in object-oriented programming, developers can create more structured and robust software designs. Regular Code Reviews and Refactoring: Conduct regular code reviews to identify areas of improvement in functor classes. Encourage refactoring sessions to continuously enhance the quality of the codebase and address any design issues proactively. By implementing these strategies and focusing on improving the cohesion and reducing the complexity of functor classes, developers can elevate the overall quality of software design, leading to more maintainable and scalable applications.

Kernekoncepter

Classes with “-Er/-Or” and “-Utils” suffixes in Java exhibit higher complexity, impacting maintainability.

Resumé

The content delves into the analysis of Java classes with suffixes "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" to determine their impact on code complexity and maintainability. The study involved examining 13,861 Java classes from 212 open-source GitHub repositories. Key highlights include:

Object-oriented programming languages view classes with these suffixes as "code smells."
Utility classes and functor classes are criticized for their impact on code understandability and maintainability.
Empirical analysis revealed that classes with these suffixes have significantly higher Cyclomatic Complexity and Cognitive Complexity metrics.
The study aimed to validate the hypothesis that functor classes represent poor design decisions.
Various metrics like LCOM5, NHD, CC, and CoCo were used to evaluate cohesion and complexity.
Results showed that functor classes are less cohesive and more complex compared to other classes.
Limitations include the lack of information on abstract classes and the small sample size of utility classes.
Future work could involve analyzing more source code and employing advanced classification algorithms.

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Statistik

We found out that average values of Cyclomatic Complexity and Cognitive Complexity metrics are at least 2.5 times higher when suffixes are present.
The values of both complexity metrics (CC and CoCo) for functor classes are almost three times larger than for other classes.

Citater

"In object-oriented programming languages, a belief exists that classes with “-Er/-Or” and “-Utils” suffixes are “code smells” because they take over a lot of functional responsibility."
"We conclude that functor classes represent poor design."

Vigtigste indsigter udtrukket fra

Java Classes with "-Er" and "-Utils" Suffixes Have Higher Complexity

by Anna Sukhova... kl. arxiv.org 03-27-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.17430.pdf

Java Classes with "-Er" and "-Utils" Suffixes Have Higher Complexity

Dybere Forespørgsler

Why do utility classes and functor classes exhibit higher complexity and lower cohesion?

Utility classes and functor classes tend to exhibit higher complexity and lower cohesion due to several reasons. Firstly, utility classes often encapsulate a wide range of functionalities that are not directly related to the core purpose of the class, leading to a lack of cohesion. These classes become a dumping ground for various methods that do not have a strong logical connection, resulting in decreased cohesion.
Similarly, functor classes, which are designed to execute operations on behalf of other classes and amalgamate multiple responsibilities, also contribute to higher complexity and lower cohesion. These classes often take on diverse tasks, making them bulky and complicated. As a result, the methods within functor classes may not be strongly connected to each other, further reducing cohesion.
Moreover, the presence of proxy methods in both utility and functor classes adds to the decrease in cohesion. Proxy methods act as intermediaries between the caller and the actual functionality, introducing an additional layer of complexity and reducing the clarity and coherence of the codebase. This indirect approach to method invocation can lead to a tangled web of dependencies and interactions, making the code harder to understand and maintain.
In essence, the accumulation of unrelated functionalities, the use of proxy methods, and the amalgamation of diverse responsibilities in utility and functor classes contribute to their higher complexity and lower cohesion, ultimately impacting the overall quality of software design.

How do proxy methods contribute to the decrease in cohesion in classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes?

Proxy methods play a significant role in the decrease in cohesion observed in classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes. These methods act as intermediaries between the caller and the actual functionality, often serving to simplify the interface for users by providing default values or handling certain arguments. While proxy methods may seem convenient on the surface, they introduce a layer of indirection that can obscure the direct relationships between components in the code.
In classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes, proxy methods are commonly used to streamline method calls and provide a more user-friendly interface. However, this convenience comes at the cost of cohesion, as proxy methods tend to abstract away the true nature of the interactions between different parts of the code. Instead of directly invoking the necessary methods, developers may rely on proxy methods to handle the communication, leading to a less cohesive structure.
Furthermore, the presence of proxy methods can create a web of dependencies and interactions that are not immediately apparent from the class interface. This hidden complexity can make it challenging for developers to understand the flow of data and control within the class, further reducing cohesion. By introducing an additional layer of abstraction, proxy methods contribute to the overall decrease in cohesion in classes with "-Er/-Or" and "-Utils" suffixes.

How can addressing issues with functor classes improve the overall quality of software design?

Addressing issues with functor classes is crucial for improving the overall quality of software design. By taking steps to enhance the cohesion and reduce the complexity of functor classes, developers can create more maintainable, readable, and extensible codebases. Here are some strategies to improve the quality of software design in the context of functor classes:

Refactor for Cohesion: Identify and refactor methods within functor classes to ensure that they are logically related and serve a cohesive purpose. By restructuring the class to have a clear and focused functionality, cohesion can be improved.

Reduce Dependency on Proxy Methods: Minimize the use of proxy methods in functor classes to streamline the code and make the interactions more direct. By eliminating unnecessary layers of abstraction, developers can enhance the clarity and coherence of the codebase.

Modularize Responsibilities: Break down the responsibilities of functor classes into smaller, more manageable modules. By dividing the functionalities into distinct units, developers can improve the maintainability and readability of the code.

Adhere to Object-Oriented Principles: Ensure that functor classes adhere to object-oriented design principles, such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. By following best practices in object-oriented programming, developers can create more structured and robust software designs.

Regular Code Reviews and Refactoring: Conduct regular code reviews to identify areas of improvement in functor classes. Encourage refactoring sessions to continuously enhance the quality of the codebase and address any design issues proactively.

By implementing these strategies and focusing on improving the cohesion and reducing the complexity of functor classes, developers can elevate the overall quality of software design, leading to more maintainable and scalable applications.