Analyzing Software Evolution Dynamics using Execution Path-aware Graph Divergence

Arifiansyah, Fitra; Catur Candra, Muhammad Zuhri; Putri Saptawati, Gusti Ayu

doi:10.5614/itbj.ict.res.appl.2026.20.1.6

Jurnal SINTA 2

Analyzing Software Evolution Dynamics using Execution Path-aware Graph Divergence

Journal of ICT Research and Applications (JICTRA) · Vol. 20 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 87–113

DOI: 10.5614/itbj.ict.res.appl.2026.20.1.6
ISSN: 2338-5499, 2337-5787
Published: 2026-07-08
Publisher: DRI - ITB
Language: eng

Abstract

Software comprehension is a fundamental activity in software maintenance, and its complexity grows as systems evolve across releases. Call graphs (CG) are widely used to support this process because they capture the calling relationships among functions. However, obtaining meaningful comparisons between different versions of a CG remains challenging. Network Portrait Divergence (NPD) provides a graph invariant and computationally efficient metric for assessing structural differences by analyzing global distributions of node distances and neighborhood patterns. Although it is effective, NPD does not include execution semantics, even though execution paths often convey the behavioral changes that matter to developers. This study introduces a refinement of NPD that replaces neighborhood-oriented features with features derived from execution paths, represented through distributions of path lengths. The modified metric is evaluated in a controlled scenario using synthetic data, designed to distinguish the effects of structural changes including new call and changes to control flow. The results show that the proposed NPD is more responsive to modifications that influence execution behavior. Scenarios that create new execution paths and restructure control flow result in substantially higher divergence. These findings suggest that including execution path information offers a more behavior-oriented view of software evolution and complements topology-based approaches.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

12 authors · 30 co-authorship links

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Bandung Institute of Technology
Affiliation unknown

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Same organisation
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Co-author	Organisation	Joint articles
Benhard Sitohang	Bandung Institute of Technology	2
Masayu Leylia Khodra	Bandung Institute of Technology	1
Nasy`an Taufiq Al Ghifari	Bandung Institute of Technology	1
Risa Tioria Marlini Purba	Affiliation unknown	1
Ari Sandy Putra Ari Tonang	Affiliation unknown	1
Abdulah Karim	Affiliation unknown	1
Gusti Ayu Putri Saptawati Soekidjo	Affiliation unknown	1
Koyimatu Muhamad	Affiliation unknown	1
Risa Tioria Marlini Purba	Affiliation unknown	1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journals.itb.ac.id/index.php/jictra/oai, first harvested 26 Okt 2026, last seen 26 Okt 2026.

Original metadata (oai_dc)

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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Analyzing Software Evolution Dynamics using Execution Path-aware Graph Divergence</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Arifiansyah, Fitra</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Catur Candra, Muhammad Zuhri</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Putri Saptawati, Gusti Ayu</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">call graph analysis</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">divergence measurement</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">execution path</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">network portrait</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">software comprehension</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">software evolution</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Software comprehension is a fundamental activity in software maintenance, and its complexity grows as systems evolve across releases. Call graphs (CG) are widely used to support this process because they capture the calling relationships among functions. However, obtaining meaningful comparisons between different versions of a CG remains challenging. Network Portrait Divergence (NPD) provides a graph invariant and computationally efficient metric for assessing structural differences by analyzing global distributions of node distances and neighborhood patterns. Although it is effective, NPD does not include execution semantics, even though execution paths often convey the behavioral changes that matter to developers. This study introduces a refinement of NPD that replaces neighborhood-oriented features with features derived from execution paths, represented through distributions of path lengths. The modified metric is evaluated in a controlled scenario using synthetic data, designed to distinguish the effects of structural changes including new call and changes to control flow. The results show that the proposed NPD is more responsive to modifications that influence execution behavior. Scenarios that create new execution paths and restructure control flow result in substantially higher divergence. These findings suggest that including execution path information offers a more behavior-oriented view of software evolution and complements topology-based approaches.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">DRI - ITB</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-07-08</dc:date>
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	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
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	<dc:identifier>https://journals.itb.ac.id/index.php/jictra/article/view/27468</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.5614/itbj.ict.res.appl.2026.20.1.6</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Journal of ICT Research and Applications; Vol. 20 No. 1 (2026); 87-113</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2338-5499</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2337-5787</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.5614/itbj.ict.res.appl.2026.20.1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journals.itb.ac.id/index.php/jictra/article/view/27468/7430</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of ICT Research and Applications</dc:rights>
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