research-article

Categorization of Common Coupling and Its Application to the Maintainability of the Linux Kernel

Authors:

Stephen R. Schach,

Jeff OffuttAuthors Info & Claims

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Volume 30, Issue 10

Pages 694 - 706

https://doi.org/10.1109/TSE.2004.58

Published: 01 October 2004 Publication History

Abstract

Data coupling between modules, especially common coupling, has long been considered a source of concern in software design, but the issue is somewhat more complicated for products that are comprised of kernel modules together with optional nonkernel modules. This paper presents a refined categorization of common coupling based on definitions and uses between kernel and nonkernel modules and applies the categorization to a case study. Common coupling is usually avoided when possible because of the potential for introducing risky dependencies among software modules. The relative risk of these dependencies is strongly related to the specific definition-use relationships. In a previous paper, we presented results from a longitudinal analysis of multiple versions of the open-source operating system Linux. This paper applies the new common coupling categorization to version 2.4.20 of Linux, counting the number of instances of common coupling between each of the 26 kernel modules and all the other nonkernel modules. We also categorize each coupling in terms of the definition-use relationships. Results show that the Linux kernel contains a large number of common couplings of all types, raising a concern about the long-term maintainability of Linux.

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Cited By

Pope MSillito JSantos RConstantinou EAntonino PBosch JViana D(2022)Exploring non-functional coupling in systems of systemsProceedings of the 10th IEEE/ACM International Workshop on Software Engineering for Systems-of-Systems and Software Ecosystems10.1145/3528229.3529383(21-28)Online publication date: 16-May-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3528229.3529383
Yu TSung ASrisa-an WRothermel G(2014)An approach to testing commercial embedded systemsJournal of Systems and Software10.5555/2747015.274718588:C(207-230)Online publication date: 1-Feb-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2747015.2747185
Gläser J(2012)The Social Order of Open Source Software ProductionInternational Journal of Open Source Software and Processes10.4018/ijossp.20121001014:4(1-15)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/ijossp.2012100101
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Index Terms

Categorization of Common Coupling and Its Application to the Maintainability of the Linux Kernel
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Management of computing and information systems
      1. Software management
        Software maintenance
2. Software and its engineering
  1. Software organization and properties
    1. Contextual software domains
      1. Operating systems
        Process management
        Process synchronization

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cover image IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering Volume 30, Issue 10

October 2004

74 pages

ISSN:0098-5589

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Copyright © 2004.

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IEEE Press

Publication History

Published: 01 October 2004

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Cited By

Pope MSillito JSantos RConstantinou EAntonino PBosch JViana D(2022)Exploring non-functional coupling in systems of systemsProceedings of the 10th IEEE/ACM International Workshop on Software Engineering for Systems-of-Systems and Software Ecosystems10.1145/3528229.3529383(21-28)Online publication date: 16-May-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3528229.3529383
Yu TSung ASrisa-an WRothermel G(2014)An approach to testing commercial embedded systemsJournal of Systems and Software10.5555/2747015.274718588:C(207-230)Online publication date: 1-Feb-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2747015.2747185
Gläser J(2012)The Social Order of Open Source Software ProductionInternational Journal of Open Source Software and Processes10.4018/ijossp.20121001014:4(1-15)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/ijossp.2012100101
Nadella SJanakiram D(2011)Message filters for hardening the Linux kernelSoftware—Practice & Experience10.1002/spe.99741:1(51-62)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2011
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1002/spe.997
Sangwan RVercellone-Smith PNeill C(2010)Use of a multidimensional approach to study the evolution of software complexityInnovations in Systems and Software Engineering10.1007/s11334-010-0133-06:4(299-310)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2010
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s11334-010-0133-0
Moses J(2009)Should we try to measure software quality attributes directly?Software Quality Journal10.1007/s11219-008-9071-617:2(203-213)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2009
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s11219-008-9071-6
Yu LChen KRamaswamy S(2009)Multiple-parameter coupling metrics for layered component-based softwareSoftware Quality Journal10.1007/s11219-008-9052-917:1(5-24)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2009
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s11219-008-9052-9
Tuunanen TKoskinen JKärkkäinen T(2009)Automated software license analysisAutomated Software Engineering10.1007/s10515-009-0054-z16:3-4(455-490)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2009
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10515-009-0054-z
Spinellis DSchäfer WDwyer MGruhn V(2008)A tale of four kernelsProceedings of the 30th international conference on Software engineering10.1145/1368088.1368140(381-390)Online publication date: 15-May-2008
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1368088.1368140
Oreg SNov O(2008)Exploring motivations for contributing to open source initiativesComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2007.09.00724:5(2055-2073)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2008
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2007.09.007
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