Linux kernels as complex networks: A novel method to study evolution

Abstract

In recent years, many graphs have turned out to be complex networks. This paper presents a novel method to study Linux kernel evolution - using complex networks to understand how Linux kernel modules evolve over time. After studying the node degree distribution and average path length of the call graphs corresponding to the kernel modules of 223 different versions (V1.1.0 to V2.4.35), we found that the call graphs of the file system and drivers module are scale-free small-world complex networks. In addition, both of the file system and drivers module exhibit very strong preferential attachment tendency. Finally, we proposed a generic method that could be used to find major structural changes that occur during the evolution of software systems.