NOT.7:4.5 - Compare the same operation and the burden it moves

Perform the selected operation with the old and new forms under comparable conditions. Compare correct and missing results first, then the effort relevant to the use: searches, unresolved references, edits, elapsed time or another suitably defined measure. C.2.8 distinguishes structure recovered from the effort of recovering it.

Also perform an operation plausibly made harder by the repair. A shared parameter may make a global change easy and a local exception harder. An outgoing-dependency index may improve downstream search while an incoming-dependency list remains better for finding prerequisites. Keep that trade-off visible in the choice.

For a human or agent trial, retain the first response before explanation or correction. If the same reader sees both forms, practice can contribute to the second result. For a local decision, that limitation may be acceptable. A general superiority or learning claim requires a comparison that supports that stronger conclusion; EXD.6 and, for instructional use, HCD.19 supply the corresponding evaluation methods.

A family of alternatives can justify matched examples and computed measures. Use those measures to locate an expression or change that needs inspection. Shorter code, fewer symbols or a smaller edit count does not alone establish better understanding. Do not build a comparison gallery when one bounded contrast can settle the local repair.