I would like to start using DSM, but not sure how to get started.
What does a good dependency matrix look like and why? How does it work?
I would like to start using DSM, but not sure how to get started.
What does a good dependency matrix look like and why? How does it work?
List the subsystems on the X and Y axis in the same order. Mark an "O" diagonally. Subsystems depending on themselves doesn't make much sense. Go vertically down the matrix. If that subsystem depends on the matching horizontal subsystem, mark an X.
A good one rearranges the subsystems to show patterns that might lead to a good refactoring.
I don't have one handy, though. Sorry.
One of the most valuable feature of a DSM is to detect cycles, for example between projects or packages. A cycle is displayed in the top-right side of the matrix. See this page for more details : http://docs.codehaus.org/display/SONAR/Dependency+Structure+Matrix
Erik Dörnenburg gives the best description I've seen, including some good examples of how arrangements of the graph can expose structural issues. Briefly:
On this blog post Identify Code Structure Patterns at a Glance it is explained how to use a Dependency Structure Matrix to identify Code Structure Patterns. The screenshots are done with the Dependency Structure Matrix of the tool NDepend. Here are a few patterns:
Layered code (code with no cycle, certainly the coolest thing that a DSM can show you at a glance)
Code with dependency cycles
High Cohesion / Low-Coupling
Hungry Caller
Popular Callee
Mutual Coupling
Data Object