JavaNCSS is a classic command-line utility used to analyze Java source code and extract key quantity and complexity metrics. It primarily calculates Non-Commenting Source Statements (NCSS) and the Cyclomatic Complexity Number (CCN), giving you a clear picture of your project’s size and maintainability without getting tricked by whitespace or comment formatting. Core Metrics Tracked by JavaNCSS
JavaNCSS measures code density and structural risk across three distinct tiers: global (package), class (object), and function (method) levels:
Non-Commenting Source Statements (NCSS): Rather than just counting raw lines, it counts actual code declarations and statements. It essentially tallies semicolons and opening curly braces while completely ignoring comments, blank lines, and closing brackets. For instance, a variable list like int a, b, c; only registers as one statement.
Cyclomatic Complexity Number (CCN): Also known as the McCabe Metric, this tracks code risk. It counts the number of decision points (if, for, while, case, catch) inside a method. A higher CCN indicates a method has too many paths, making it complex to test and prone to bugs.
Program Structure Counts: It tracks the total quantity of your packages, classes, functions, and Javadoc comments. How to Run JavaNCSS Quickly
You can execute JavaNCSS directly via the command line or embed it within modern automation pipelines. 1. Command-Line Interface (CLI)
Once you download and add the JavaNCSS files to your system CLASSPATH, navigate to your project directory and use the basic execution syntax: JavaNCSS Maven Plugin – Introduction – MojoHaus
Leave a Reply