Predictive value of alternative static program properties

Determine whether static program properties such as source length, nesting, and data-flow structure have predictive value for execution-prediction errors, including possible negative or nonmonotonic relationships.

Background

The paper evaluates cyclomatic complexity as a static measure of control-flow structure and finds no consistent positive association with prediction error within the tested task conditions. The authors explicitly note that this result does not resolve other forms of association or the usefulness of additional static measures. In particular, source length, nesting, and data-flow structure remain candidate explanatory or predictive variables for future analysis.

References

Higher cyclomatic complexity therefore shows no consistent positive association with error within the tested conditions. This directional result concerns CC alone. It leaves open negative or nonmonotonic associations and the predictive value of other static properties, such as source length, nesting, and data-flow structure.

— Evaluating Exact Output and Checkpoint-State Prediction in Real Programs  (2610.11889 - Chen et al., 8 Oct 2026) in Section 5, “Cyclomatic complexity within task conditions”