Introduction and Evaluation of Complexity Metrics for Network-based, Graphical IEC 61131-3 Programming Languages

Abstract

The development of automated Production Systems (aPS) is an interdisciplinary process, where an increasing part of the system's functionality is realized in the respective control software. Such software projects commonly utilize programming languages standardized in IEC 61131-3. To measure, improve, and maintain source code while also promoting trust in its capabilities, an objective assessment of its characteristics is necessary. Software metrics are a means for such an evaluation. While there is an abundance of metrics available from the classical software engineering domain, these metrics focus on textual programming languages. IEC 61131-3, however, defines graphical languages, which are not targeted by renowned concepts in computer science. Besides, former research demonstrates that software engineering metrics for textual languages need adaption to be applicable in the aPS domain. Thus, this paper introduces a metrics suite consisting of adapted and newly developed measures, which focus on the graphical IEC 61131-3 language Function Block Diagram. The results are prototypically implemented in one of the leading integrated development environments for IEC 61131-3 and then evaluated regarding their understandability and applicability by practitioners at a German aPS manufacturer.