Comparison of Machine Learning Techniques for Software Quality Prediction

Software quality prediction is one the most challenging tasks in the development and maintenance of software. Machine learning (ML) is widely being incorporated for the prediction of the quality of a final product in the early development stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC). An ML prediction model uses software metrics and faulty data from previous projects to detect high-risk modules for future projects, so that the testing efforts can be targeted to those specific 'risky' modules. Hence, ML-based predictors contribute to the detection of development anomalies early and inexpensively and ensure the timely delivery of a successful, failure-free and supreme quality software product within budget. This article has a comparison of 30 software quality prediction models (5 technique * 6 dataset) built on five ML techniques: artificial neural network (ANN); support vector machine (SVMs); Decision Tree (DTs); k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN); and Naive Bayes Classifiers (NBC), using six datasets: CM1, KC1, KC2, PC1, JM1, and a combined one. These models exploit the predictive power of static code metrics, McCabe complexity metrics, for quality prediction. All thirty predictors are compared using a receiver operator curve (ROC), area under the curve (AUC), and accuracy as performance evaluation criteria. The results show that the ANN technique for software quality prediction is promising for accurate quality prediction irrespective of the dataset used.