3D-Visualization Method Study Of Software Structural And Metrics

Because the nature of visualization is to be visual, it can help researchers programmers and users to enhance the efficiency on software comprehension. So its application is more and more popular in software comprehension. Software Metrics is a quantitative and effective method for software analysis, but the drawback is that it is difficult to understand the large quantity of data generated by metrics, so applying visualization technology into software metrics can support software understanding and maintenance better. However, the existing software visualization (SV) methods only can display fewer software attributes and cann't show information completely. Further more the layout algorithms they used only satisfy the aesthetic requirements, ignoring the demand of software engineering. Aimed at these shortcomings, a new SV approach and two kinds of layout algorithm are introduced in this paper. The SV approach uses assembled 3D-Graphics to represent software entities. Both algorithms can be applied to software metrics visualization, and their feasibility is proved.This paper is composed of three parts:Firstly, a SV approach is proposed and implemented to overcome the shortcomings of existing metrics visualization methods. This method is based on composite 3D graphics, and represents software entity as two parts: attribute body and symbol body, and considers mapping between metrics and graphics attribute from the view of cognition.Secondly, a layout algorithm, called Force-Directed Layout Algorithm of Coupling and Clustering, is designed and its feasibility is proved. Futher more two examples through manual layout based on CC-FDLA are given and analyzed. The algorithm use distance between two vertexs to show coupling and cohesion of software entities, the bigger the coupling is, the longer the distance is.Finally, a layout algorithm, called Hierarchy Layout Algorithm for 3D, is designed and its feasibility is proved. Futher more two examples through manual layout based on 3D-HLA are given and analyzed. The layout of this algorithm can show the hierarchical and tree impurity of system design graph intuitively.