# software analytics > analysis of software systems including source code, software metrics, development processes aimed at describing, monitoring, predicting, and improving efficiency and effectivity of software engineering **Wikidata**: [Q7554239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7554239) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_analytics) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/software-analytics ## Summary Software analytics is the analysis of software systems using data such as source code, software metrics, and development-process information to describe, monitor, predict, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of software engineering. It is a facet and subclass of analytics focused specifically on software as the class of objects it studies. ## Key Facts - Software analytics is defined as the analysis of software systems including source code, software metrics, and development processes to describe, monitor, predict, and improve efficiency and effectivity of software engineering. (Wikidata description) - Software analytics uses source code, version control systems, and software metrics as primary inputs. (Structured properties: uses) - Software analytics is a subclass of analytics and a facet of software engineering. (Structured properties: subclass_of: analytics; facet_of: software engineering) - Software analytics is part of software engineering with a qualifier noting uncertainty. (Structured properties: part_of: {'value': 'software engineering', 'qualifiers': {'P5102': 'uncertainty'}}) - The class of objects it occurs on is software. (Structured properties: class_of_object(s)_of_occurrence: software) - Aliases for software analytics include "software analysis", "ソフトウェア分析", and "运行时智能". (Structured properties: aliases) - Identifiers: freebase_id /m/0ll3rcp; Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued) 171981572. (Structured properties) - Wikidata sitelink_count: 1; Wikipedia title: "Software analytics" (English). (Structured properties) ## FAQs ### Q: What exactly does software analytics do? A: Software analytics collects and analyzes data from software artifacts and development processes—such as source code, version control history, and software metrics—to describe current states, monitor changes, predict outcomes, and support improvements in software engineering efficiency and effectiveness. ### Q: How is software analytics related to analytics and software engineering? A: Software analytics is a subclass of the broader field of analytics and is a facet of software engineering. It applies analytics methods specifically to software artifacts and development processes. ### Q: What kinds of data does software analytics rely on? A: It relies on data such as source code, information from version control systems, and software metrics derived from code and process activities. ## Why It Matters Software analytics matters because it brings data-driven insight into the practice of building and maintaining software. By analyzing source code, version-control histories, and quantitative metrics from development processes, it enables teams to describe and monitor the actual state of software systems rather than relying solely on intuition. This monitoring and descriptive capability supports prediction—about defects, performance, or maintenance needs—and targeted improvement efforts to raise engineering efficiency and effectiveness. As a facet of software engineering and a subclass of analytics, software analytics provides specialized methods and inputs tailored to software as the object of study. Its focus on measurable artifacts makes it a practical bridge between raw development data and actionable decisions, supporting continuous improvement, risk management, and evidence-based prioritization in software projects. ## Notable For - Being the application of analytics specifically to software artifacts and development processes, distinguishing it from general-purpose analytics. - Using source code and version-control system data as primary input sources, which ties analytics directly to software artifacts. - Explicitly aiming to describe, monitor, predict, and improve both efficiency and effectiveness in software engineering. - Existing as a recognized subclass/facet within analytics and software engineering, with structured identifiers such as freebase_id /m/0ll3rcp and a Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued) 171981572. ## Body ### Definition - Software analytics is the analysis of software systems. - It includes analysis of source code, software metrics, and development processes. - Its goals are to describe, monitor, predict, and improve efficiency and effectiveness in software engineering. ### Scope and Inputs - Primary inputs: source code, version control system data, software metrics. - Objects of occurrence: software (the class of objects that software analytics studies). - Processes analyzed include development processes captured by metrics and version-control history. ### Classification and Relationships - Subclass_of: analytics. Software analytics applies general analytics principles to software-specific data. - Facet_of: software engineering. It is a specialized area within the broader discipline of software engineering. - Part_of: software engineering, with an attached qualifier indicating uncertainty in that relationship (P5102: "uncertainty"). - Related entity: Runtime intelligence is listed as a related Thing. ### Aliases and Language - Aliases include: "software analysis", Japanese "ソフトウェア分析", and Chinese "运行时智能". - Wikipedia title: "Software analytics" (English). - Wikidata entry summary provides the core descriptive definition. ### Identifiers and Metadata - freebase_id: /m/0ll3rcp. - Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 171981572. - Wikidata sitelink_count for this entry: 1. ### Goals and Outcomes - Describe the state of software systems. - Monitor changes across code and process metrics. - Predict likely future states or risks. - Improve efficiency and effectiveness in software engineering through data-driven interventions. ## References 1. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)