Size oriented metrics - Definition - Evaluating Products, Processes & Resources

Q.  Which metrics are derived by normalizing quality and/or productivity measures by considering the size of the software that has been produced?
- Published on 22 Jul 15

a. Size oriented
b. Function-Oriented
c. Object-Oriented
d. Use-case-Oriented

ANSWER: Size oriented
 

    Discussion

  • Nirja Shah   -Posted on 26 Oct 15
    Size - oriented metrics
    - It is derived by normalizing the quality and/or productivity measures by considering the size of the software produced

    - There are thousand lines of code (KLOC) which are often chosen as the normalization value

    - Metrics include
    Errors per KLOC - Errors per person-month
    Defects per KLOC - KLOC per person-month
    Dollars per KLOC - Dollars per page of documentation
    Pages of documentation per KLOC

    - This metric is not universally accepted as the best way to measure the software process

    - The opponents are the one that argue with KLOC measurements
    1. Are dependent on the programming language
    2. Penalize well-designed but short programs
    3. Cannot easily accommodate non-procedural languages
    4. Require a level of detail that may be difficult to achieve

    Function - oriented metrics
    - This metric uses a measure of the functionality delivered by the application as a normalization value

    - The most widely used metric of this type is the function point:

    FP = count total * [0.65 + 0.01 * sum (value adj. factors)]

    - The function point values on past projects is used to compute, for example, the average number of lines of code per function point (e.g., 60)

    Object - oriented metrics
    - Conventional software project metrics (LOC or FP) can be used to estimate object - oriented software projects.

    - However, these metrics do not provide enough granularity for the schedule and effort adjustments that are required as we iterate through an evolutionary or incremental process.

    Use - case oriented metrics
    - It would seem reasonable to apply the use case as a normalization measure similar to LOC or FP.

    - Like FP, the use case is defined early in the software process allowing it to be used for estimation before significant modelling and construction activities are initiated.

    - It describes user- visible functions and features that are basic requirements for a system.

    - It is independent of programming language.

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