Code Clones: Detection and Management

Abstract In a software system, similar or identical fragments of code are known as code clones. Instead of implementing a new code from scratch, most of the developers prefer copy–paste programming in which they use existing code fragments. So, the primary reason behind code cloning isboth developers and programming languages used by them. Reusing existing software for increasing software productivity is a key element of object oriented programming which makes clone detection and management a primary concern for current industry. As a software system grows, it becomes more complex which leads to difficulty in maintaining it. The main reason behind difficulty in software maintenance is code clones which do not lead to conclusion that code clones are only harmful for software development. Code clones can be both advantageous and disastrous for software development. Therefore, clones should be analysed before refactoring or removing them. For analysing the clones properly, there is a need to study all the clone detection techniques, various types of clones and techniques to manage them.The main purpose of this paper is to gain insight in to the research available in the area of clone detection and management and identify the research gaps to work upon. It will help the researchers to get started easily with clones as they can study the basic concepts, techniques, general steps for code clone detection and management and research gaps together at one place. Also, it will help in the selection of appropriate techniques for detecting and managing clones as comparative analysis of different techniques on the basis of various parameters is also given in the paper.