Cyclomatic Complexity Readme

Overview

Cyclomatic complexity is a software metric used to measure the complexity of a program's control flow. It quantifies the number of independent paths through the code and helps identify potential areas that might be difficult to test and maintain. This README provides an introduction to cyclomatic complexity, its calculation, interpretation, and how to use it to improve code quality.

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What is Cyclomatic Complexity?

Cyclomatic complexity is based on the concept of a graph representing a program's control flow. It counts the number of decision points or branches in the code, such as conditional statements (if, else, switch), loops (for, while, do-while), and logical operators (&&, ||, ?:). The higher the cyclomatic complexity value, the more intricate and potentially challenging the code structure.

How to use config values

You need to create a cyclomatic-config.json file at Root level and provide values written below. Every value is optional.

Skip operators can we anything which you wanted to skip(default is "||", "&&") Allowed Complexity value can be nay number(default will be 6).

Example : { "skipOperators": ["||", "&&"], "allowedComplexity": 6 }

How to check the complexity

You should have lint package, Just run npm run lint

Calculating Cyclomatic Complexity

There are several ways to calculate cyclomatic complexity, but one of the most common methods is to use the formula:

M = E - N + 2P

where:

• M is the cyclomatic complexity
• E is the number of edges (directed connections between nodes) in the control flow graph
• N is the number of nodes (basic blocks) in the control flow graph
• P is the number of connected components (exit points) in the graph

Alternatively, cyclomatic complexity can be computed by counting the number of decision points (Cyclomatic Complexity = Number of Decision Points + 1).

Interpreting Cyclomatic Complexity Scores

The cyclomatic complexity value provides insight into the maintainability and testability of the codebase. Generally, a higher cyclomatic complexity indicates more complex code, which might be harder to understand, test, and maintain. As a guideline, the following interpretations can be used:

• 1 to 10: Simple and easy-to-understand code
• 11 to 20: Moderately complex code
• 21 to 50: Complex code that should be refactored to reduce complexity
• 51 and above: Highly complex code that needs immediate attention

Using Cyclomatic Complexity

To use cyclomatic complexity effectively:

1. Measure and Track Complexity: Regularly analyze your codebase using tools or static analysis to identify high complexity areas that need attention.

2. Refactor Complex Code: When you encounter high complexity scores, consider refactoring the code to make it simpler, more modular, and easier to maintain.

3. Unit Testing: Higher complexity code usually requires more thorough testing. Use cyclomatic complexity as a guide to determine the number and depth of test cases.

4. Code Reviews: During code reviews, pay attention to high complexity areas and collaborate with developers to find better solutions.

Tools for Calculating Cyclomatic Complexity

There are various tools available that can automatically calculate cyclomatic complexity for your codebase. Some popular ones include:

• ESLint
• SonarQube
• CodeClimate
• JSHint

Conclusion

Cyclomatic complexity is a valuable metric for understanding the complexity of your codebase and identifying areas that may benefit from refactoring. By keeping complexity under control, you can improve code maintainability, testability, and overall software quality. Regularly monitoring and addressing cyclomatic complexity will contribute to a healthier and more manageable codebase.