NDepend

NDepend
Developer(s)	NDepend
Stable release	6.3.0.8686 / April 29, 2016; 8 years ago
Operating system	Windows
Type	Software quality
License	Commercial, Proprietary
Website	ndepend.com

NDepend is a static analysis tool for .NET managed code. This tool supports a large number of code metrics, allows for visualization of dependencies using directed graphs and dependency matrix. The tools also performs code base snapshots comparison, and validation of architectural and quality rules. User-defined rules can be written using LINQ queries. This possibility is named CQLinq. The tool also comes with a large number of predefined CQLinq code rules. Code rules can be checked automatically in Visual Studio or during continuous integration.

Features

The main features of NDepend are:

Dependency Visualization (using dependency graphs, and dependency matrix)
Software metrics (NDepend currently supports 82 code metrics: Cyclomatic complexity; Afferent and Efferent Coupling; Relational Cohesion; Google page rank of .NET types; Percentage of code covered by tests, etc.)
Declarative code rule over LINQ query (CQLinq)
Integration with CruiseControl and TeamCity
Optional code constraints in the source code using CLI attributes
Version comparison of two versions of the same assembly

New features since V6.0

Integration with Visual Studio 2015
Enhanced Visual Studio Integration
Colored Code Metric View
Intuitive display of Code Coverage percentage
Rule Files Shareable amongst Projects
Default Rules Description and HowToFix
Default Rules Less False Positives
Compiler Generated Code Removal
Async Support
Integration with TFS
Integration with SonarQube
Integration with TeamCity
Support Visual Studio Themes
Support for high DPI resolution

Code rules through LINQ queries (CQLinq)

Since NDepend version 4 released in May 2012, the tool proposes live code queries and code rules through LINQ queries. This is one of the innovations of NDepend. For example:

- Base class should not use derivatives:

// <Name>Base class should not use derivatives</Name>
warnif count > 0 
from baseClass in JustMyCode.Types
where baseClass.IsClass && baseClass.NbChildren > 0 // <-- for optimization!
let derivedClassesUsed = baseClass.DerivedTypes.UsedBy(baseClass)
where derivedClassesUsed.Count() > 0
select new { baseClass, derivedClassesUsed }

- Avoid making complex methods even more complex (source code cyclomatic complexity):

// <Name>Avoid making complex methods even more complex (source code cyclomatic complexity)</Name>
warnif count > 0 
from m in JustMyCode.Methods where
 !m.IsAbstract &&
  m.IsPresentInBothBuilds() &&
  m.CodeWasChanged()
let oldCC = m.OlderVersion().CyclomaticComplexity
where oldCC > 6 && m.CyclomaticComplexity > oldCC 
select new { m,
    oldCC, 
    newCC = m.CyclomaticComplexity, 
    oldLoc = m.OlderVersion().NbLinesOfCode,
    newLoc = m.NbLinesOfCode,
}

In addition, the tool proposes a live CQLinq query editor with code completion and embedded documentation.

External links

NDepend reviewed by the .NET community

Books that mention NDepend

Girish Suryanarayana, Ganesh Samarthyam, and Tushar Sharma. Refactoring for Software Design Smells: Managing Technical Debt (2014)
Marcin Kawalerowicz and Craig Berntson. Continuous Integration in .NET (2010)
James Avery and Jim Holmes. Windows developer power tools (2006)
Patrick Cauldwell and Scott Hanselman. Code Leader: Using People, Tools, and Processes to Build Successful Software (2008)
Yogesh Shetty and Samir Jayaswal. Practical .NET for financial markets (2006)
Paul Duvall. Continuous Integration (2007)
Rick Leinecker and Vanessa L. Williams. Visual Studio 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies (2008)
Patrick Smacchia. Practical .Net 2 and C# 2: Harness the Platform, the Language, the Framework (2006)

Features

Code rules through LINQ queries (CQLinq)

See also

External links

NDepend reviewed by the .NET community

Books that mention NDepend