On the Relationship of Inconsistent Software Clones and Faults: An Empirical Study

TL;DR

This empirical study investigates the connection between inconsistent code clones (type-3) and software faults, revealing that a significant portion of type-3 clones contain faults and that developer awareness may influence fault fixing.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the relationship between type-3 clones and faults, highlighting developer awareness and suggesting potential for clone-aware defect detection tools.

Findings

17% of type-3 clones contain faults

Most type-3 clones are modified simultaneously by developers

Weak correlation between clone length and faultiness

Abstract

Background: Code cloning - copying and reusing pieces of source code - is a common phenomenon in software development in practice. There have been several empirical studies on the effects of cloning, but there are contradictory results regarding the connection of cloning and faults. Objective: Our aim is to clarify the relationship between code clones and faults. In particular, we focus on inconsistent (or type-3) clones in this work. Method: We conducted a case study with TWT GmbH where we detected the code clones in three Java systems, set them into relation to information from issue tracking and version control and interviewed three key developers. Results: Of the type-3 clones, 17 % contain faults. Developers modified most of the type-3 clones simultaneously and thereby fixed half of the faults in type-3 clones consistently. Type-2 clones with faults all evolved to fixed type-3 clones. Clone length is only weakly correlated with faultiness. Conclusion: There are indications that the developers in two cases have been aware of clones. It might be a reason for the weak relationship between type-3 clones and faults. Hence, it seems important to keep developers aware of clones, potentially with new tool support. Future studies need to investigate if the rate of faults in type-3 clones justifies using them as cues in defect detection.