A plurality of metadata corresponding to a plurality of code versions of an application stored in a version control system is generated. A determination is made of a set of changes between a first metadata of a first code version and a second metadata of a second code version. A classification is made of elements in the set of changes into a first category and a second category based on a set of predetermined rules, wherein the elements classified into the first category are better candidates to determine causes of defects in the application than the elements classified into the second category. The elements classified in the first category are used to determine a cause of a defect in the application.