An approach for classifying source code with a code quality indicator

A computer-implemented method for code classification, the method comprising:

• parsing source code stored on a code carrier to obtain a plurality of code structure characteristics of the source code;
• evaluating the code structure characteristics on at least three code structure levels comprising a module level, wherein the evaluation on each code structure level comprises, for each of one or more level-specific conditions:
• determining whether the code structure characteristics violate the level-specific condition, wherein the level-specific condition is considered violated when the code structure characteristic falls on a specific side of a corresponding threshold value;
• and
• when the level-specific condition is violated, representing the violation by a weighted value, wherein the weighted value is indicative of a significance of the violated level-specific condition and/or of an extent of the violation;
• combining the weighted values for at least some of the violated level-specific conditions over the at least three code structure levels to generate one or more code quality indicator for the source code, wherein the one or more code quality indicator for the source code comprises module-specific code quality values, and wherein generation of a module-specific code quality indicator value comprises combining only weighted values that relate to the module under consideration;
• and
• causing use of the one or more code quality indicator to provide guidance to a user regarding which portions of the source code should be prioritized for improvement efforts.

An apparatus for code classification, the apparatus comprising controlling circuitry configured to cause:

• parsing source code stored on a code carrier to obtain a plurality of code structure characteristics of the source code;
• evaluation of the code structure characteristics on at least three code structure levels comprising a module level, wherein the evaluation on each code structure level comprises, for each of one or more level-specific conditions:
• determination of whether the code structure characteristics violate the level-specific condition, wherein the level-specific condition is considered violated when the code structure characteristic falls on a specific side of a corresponding threshold value;
• and
• responsive to the level-specific condition being violated, representation of the violation by a weighted value, wherein the weighted value is indicative of a significance of the violated level-specific condition and/or of an extent of the violation;
• combination of the weighted values for at least some of the violated level-specific conditions over the at least three code structure levels to generate one or more code quality indicator for the source code, wherein the one or more code quality indicator for the source code comprises module-specific code quality values, and wherein generation of a module-specific code quality indicator value comprises combination of only weighted values that relate to the module under consideration;
• and
• use of the one or more code quality indicator to provide guidance to a user regarding which portions of the source code should be prioritized for improvement efforts.