Class NPathComplexityCheck
- java.lang.Object
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- com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AutomaticBean
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- com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AbstractViolationReporter
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- com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AbstractCheck
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- com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.checks.metrics.NPathComplexityCheck
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- All Implemented Interfaces:
Configurable
,Contextualizable
public final class NPathComplexityCheck extends AbstractCheck
Checks the NPATH complexity against a specified limit.
The NPATH metric computes the number of possible execution paths through a function(method). It takes into account the nesting of conditional statements and multi-part boolean expressions (A && B, C || D, E ? F :G and their combinations).
The NPATH metric was designed base on Cyclomatic complexity to avoid problem of Cyclomatic complexity metric like nesting level within a function(method).
Metric was described at "NPATH: a measure of execution pathcomplexity and its applications". If you need detailed description of algorithm, please read that article, it is well written and have number of examples and details.
Here is some quotes:
An NPATH threshold value of 200 has been established for a function. The value 200 is based on studies done at AT&T Bell Laboratories [1988 year].
Some of the most effective methods of reducing the NPATH value include:
- distributing functionality;
- implementing multiple if statements as a switch statement;
- creating a separate function for logical expressions with a high count of variables and (&&) and or (||) operators.
Although strategies to reduce the NPATH complexity of functions are important, care must be taken not to distort the logical clarity of the software by applying a strategy to reduce the complexity of functions. That is, there is a point of diminishing return beyond which a further attempt at reduction of complexity distorts the logical clarity of the system structure.
Examples Structure Complexity expression if ([expr]) { [if-range] } NP(if-range) + 1 + NP(expr) if ([expr]) { [if-range] } else { [else-range] } NP(if-range)+ NP(else-range) + NP(expr) while ([expr]) { [while-range] } NP(while-range) + NP(expr) + 1 do { [do-range] } while ([expr]) NP(do-range) + NP(expr) + 1 for([expr1]; [expr2]; [expr3]) { [for-range] } NP(for-range) + NP(expr1)+ NP(expr2) + NP(expr3) + 1 switch ([expr]) { case : [case-range] default: [default-range] } S(i=1:i=n)NP(case-range[i]) + NP(default-range) + NP(expr) [expr1] ? [expr2] : [expr3] NP(expr1) + NP(expr2) + NP(expr3) + 2 goto label 1 break 1 Expressions Number of && and || operators in expression. No operators - 0 continue 1 return 1 Statement (even sequential statements) 1 Empty block {} 1 Function call 1 Function(Method) declaration or Block P(i=1:i=N)NP(Statement[i]) Rationale: Nejmeh says that his group had an informal NPATH limit of 200 on individual routines; functions(methods) that exceeded this value were candidates for further decomposition - or at least a closer look. Please do not be fanatic with limit 200 - choose number that suites your project style. Limit 200 is empirical number base on some sources of at AT&T Bell Laboratories of 1988 year.
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Property
max
- Specify the maximum threshold allowed. Default value is200
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To configure the check:
<module name="NPathComplexity"/>
To configure the check with a threshold of 1000:
<module name="NPathComplexity"> <property name="max" value="1000"/> </module>
- Since:
- 3.4
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Nested Class Summary
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Nested classes/interfaces inherited from class com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AutomaticBean
AutomaticBean.OutputStreamOptions
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Field Summary
Fields Modifier and Type Field Description static java.lang.String
MSG_KEY
A key is pointing to the warning message text in "messages.properties" file.
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Constructor Summary
Constructors Constructor Description NPathComplexityCheck()
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Method Summary
All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods Modifier and Type Method Description void
beginTree(DetailAST rootAST)
Called before the starting to process a tree.int[]
getAcceptableTokens()
The configurable token set.int[]
getDefaultTokens()
Returns the default token a check is interested in.int[]
getRequiredTokens()
The tokens that this check must be registered for.void
leaveToken(DetailAST ast)
Called after all the child nodes have been process.void
setMax(int max)
Setter to specify the maximum threshold allowed.void
visitToken(DetailAST ast)
Called to process a token.-
Methods inherited from class com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AbstractCheck
clearMessages, destroy, finishTree, getFileContents, getLine, getLines, getMessages, getTabWidth, getTokenNames, init, isCommentNodesRequired, log, log, log, setFileContents, setTabWidth, setTokens
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Methods inherited from class com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AbstractViolationReporter
finishLocalSetup, getCustomMessages, getId, getMessageBundle, getSeverity, getSeverityLevel, setId, setSeverity
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Methods inherited from class com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.AutomaticBean
configure, contextualize, getConfiguration, setupChild
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Field Detail
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MSG_KEY
public static final java.lang.String MSG_KEY
A key is pointing to the warning message text in "messages.properties" file.- See Also:
- Constant Field Values
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Method Detail
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setMax
public void setMax(int max)
Setter to specify the maximum threshold allowed.- Parameters:
max
- the maximum threshold
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getDefaultTokens
public int[] getDefaultTokens()
Description copied from class:AbstractCheck
Returns the default token a check is interested in. Only used if the configuration for a check does not define the tokens.- Specified by:
getDefaultTokens
in classAbstractCheck
- Returns:
- the default tokens
- See Also:
TokenTypes
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getAcceptableTokens
public int[] getAcceptableTokens()
Description copied from class:AbstractCheck
The configurable token set. Used to protect Checks against malicious users who specify an unacceptable token set in the configuration file. The default implementation returns the check's default tokens.- Specified by:
getAcceptableTokens
in classAbstractCheck
- Returns:
- the token set this check is designed for.
- See Also:
TokenTypes
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getRequiredTokens
public int[] getRequiredTokens()
Description copied from class:AbstractCheck
The tokens that this check must be registered for.- Specified by:
getRequiredTokens
in classAbstractCheck
- Returns:
- the token set this must be registered for.
- See Also:
TokenTypes
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beginTree
public void beginTree(DetailAST rootAST)
Description copied from class:AbstractCheck
Called before the starting to process a tree. Ideal place to initialize information that is to be collected whilst processing a tree.- Overrides:
beginTree
in classAbstractCheck
- Parameters:
rootAST
- the root of the tree
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visitToken
public void visitToken(DetailAST ast)
Description copied from class:AbstractCheck
Called to process a token.- Overrides:
visitToken
in classAbstractCheck
- Parameters:
ast
- the token to process
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leaveToken
public void leaveToken(DetailAST ast)
Description copied from class:AbstractCheck
Called after all the child nodes have been process.- Overrides:
leaveToken
in classAbstractCheck
- Parameters:
ast
- the token leaving
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