Continuous Integration and Software Quality: A Causal Explanatory Study

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2309.10205
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Authors: Eliezio Soares; Daniel Alencar da...; Uirá Kulesza
• Keywords: Causation; Causality; Causal model

Continuous Integration (CI) is a software engineering practice that aims to reduce the cost and risk of code integration among teams. Recent empirical studies have confirmed associations between CI quality (SQ). However, no existing study investigates causal relationships SQ. This paper it by applying Direct Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) technique. We combine two other strategies support this technique: literature review Mining Software Repository (MSR) study. In first stage, we discover SQ, which help us create "literature-based DAG" in second stage. DAG encapsulates assumptions regarding its influence on third analyze 12 activity months for 70 opensource projects mining repositories -- 35 no-CI projects. MSR not typical "correlation causation" because used verify uncovered produced stages. The fourth stage consists testing statistical implications from our dataset. Finally, fifth build with observations dataset, "literature-data DAG". addition direct effect find evidence indirect effects CI. For example, affects teams' communication, positively impacts also highlight confounding project age.