Dependency Graph
Fan-in, fan-out, cycles, dependency depth, unstable dependencies. A sensor of structural coupling between modules.
The dependency graph reveals hidden relationships: modules that import each other transitively, cycles that create tight coupling, dependencies on unstable (frequently changing) modules. None of these are bugs — but they’re risk factors.
Sensor properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Oracle strength | Low — coupling is a risk factor, not a bug |
| Independence | High — graph is computed from the code |
| Scope | System-level |
| Feedback latency | Seconds |
| Actionability | Exploratory — shows the graph, you interpret it |
| Type | Predictive |
What it cannot detect
The dependency graph shows structural coupling, not behavioral coupling — modules that change together for reasons the graph can’t see. That requires change coupling analysis.