Can someone show me what a good dependency matrix looks like and specify why?

Question

I would like to start using DSM, but not sure how to get started.

What does a good dependency matrix look like and why? How does it work?

Answer 1

On this blog post Identify Code Structure Patterns with No Effort it is explained how to use a Dependency Structure Matrix to identify Code Structure Patterns. The screenshots are done with the Dependency Structure Matrix of the tool NDepend. Here are a few patterns:

Layered code (code with no cycle, certainly the coolest thing that a DSM can show you at a glance)

Code with dependency cycles

High Cohesion / Low-Coupling

Hungry Caller

Popular Callee

Mutual Coupling

Data Object