Code readability and maintainability are crucial aspects of software engineering. While numerous techniques exist to improve software structure—such as architectural design, modularization, and testability—this document focuses on a micro-level metric that directly impacts code comprehension: Variable Hard Usage (VHU).
Variable Hard Usage is a quantitative measure of how intensely a local variable is utilized within a function or method. By analyzing a variable’s scope (the number of lines it spans), access frequency (how often it is referenced), and update frequency (how often its value is modified), this metric aims to identify overused variables that may degrade code readability and maintainability. High VHU values indicate that a variable is being excessively manipulated, making the code harder to read, understand, and modify.