Metrics

[ThirtySomething]

SourceMonitor uses for the complexity metrics the following definition

The complexity metric is counted approximately as defined by Steve McConnell in his book Code Complete, Microsoft Press, 1993, p.395. The complexity metric measures the number of execution paths through a function or method. Each function or method has a complexity of one plus one for each branch statement such as if, else, for, foreach, or while. Arithmetic if statements (MyBoolean ? ValueIfTrue : ValueIfFalse) each add one count to the complexity total. A complexity count is added for each '&&' and '||' in the logic within if, for, while or similar logic statements.

Switch statements add complexity counts for each exit from a case (due to a break, goto, return, throw, continue, or similar statement), and one count is added for a default case even if one is not present. (Note: when a project's Modified Complexity option is selected, switch statements add a count of one to the complexity and the internal case statements do not contribute to the complexity metric.) Each catch or except statement in a try block (but not the try or finally statements) each add one count to the complexity as well.

This might be different than the McCabe metric. Maybe it is useful to offer both metrics?