Multi-Objective Reconstruction Of Software Architecture

TL;DR

This paper evaluates search-based algorithms for reconstructing high-level software architectures from legacy systems, aiding architects in managing design erosion and understanding trade-offs.

Contribution

It introduces a performance evaluation of various metaheuristic algorithms for high-dimensional architecture reconstruction, supporting legacy system analysis.

Findings

Metaheuristic algorithms vary in effectiveness for architecture reconstruction.

The evaluation informs the development of a tool for analyzing architectural trade-offs.

High-dimensional objectives pose significant challenges in architecture recovery.

Abstract

Design erosion is a persistent problem within the software engineering discipline. Software designs tend to deteriorate over time and there is a need for tools and techniques that support software architects when dealing with legacy systems. This paper presents an evaluation of a Search Based Software Engineering (SBSE) approach intended to recover high-level architecture designs of software systems by structuring low-level artefacts into high-level architecture artefact configurations. In particular , this paper describes the performance evaluation of a number of metaheuristic search algorithms applied to architecture reconstruction problems with high dimensionality in terms of objectives. These problems have been selected as representative of the typical challenges faced by software architects dealing with legacy systems and the results inform the ongoing developed of a software tool that supports the analysis of trade-offs between different reconstructed architectures.