Abstract:Construction and evolution are two basic properties of software. Software evolution consists of a series of complex change activities. Software complexity decides that the research of software evolution should start with the macroscopical level firstly. Software architecture (SA), which acts as a blueprint and a skeleton of software, offers an availability approach with the whole macroscopical software architecture and evolution grasped by people. The component, connector models, which create SA relation matrix and reachability matrix, are described. Depending on matrix shift and calculation, ripple-effect of SA evolution can be analyzed and its quantity can be ascertained, describing every ripple-effect caused by component deletion, addition, modification, division and combination respectively. At the same time, an approach for calculating the relative quantity of component effect is described. All are credible foundation for management, control, usage and evaluation of SA evolution, and are foundation for SA evolution automation calculation based on matrix shift in computer.