Software Measurement Metrics

Software metrics is a standard of measure that contains many activities which involve some degree of measurement. It can be classified into three categories: product metrics, process metrics, and project metrics.

• Product metrics describe the characteristics of the product such as size, complexity, design features, performance, and quality level.

• Process metrics can be used to improve software development and maintenance. Examples include the effectiveness of defect removal during development, the pattern of testing defect arrival, and the response time of the fix process.

• Project metrics describe the project characteristics and execution. Examples include the number of software developers, the staffing pattern over the life cycle of the software, cost, schedule, and productivity.

Some metrics belong to multiple categories. For example, the in-process quality metrics of a project are both process metrics and project metrics.

Scope of Software Metrics

Software metrics contains many activities which include the following −

• Cost and effort estimation
• Productivity measures and model
• Data collection
• Quantity models and measures
• Reliability models
• Performance and evaluation models
• Structural and complexity metrics
• Capability – maturity assessment
• Management by metrics
• Evaluation of methods and tools

Software measurement is a diverse collection of these activities that range from models predicting software project costs at a specific stage to measures of program structure.

Cost and Effort Estimation

Effort is expressed as a function of one or more variables such as the size of the program, the capability of the developers and the level of reuse. Cost and effort estimation models have been proposed to predict the project cost during early phases in the software life cycle. The different models proposed are −

• Boehm’s COCOMO model
• Putnam’s slim model
• Albrecht’s function point model

Productivity Model and Measures

Productivity can be considered as a function of the value and the cost. Each can be decomposed into different measurable size, functionality, time, money, etc. Different possible components of a productivity model can be expressed in the following diagram.

Data Collection

The quality of any measurement program is clearly dependent on careful data collection. Data collected can be distilled into simple charts and graphs so that the managers can understand the progress and problem of the development. Data collection is also essential for scientific investigation of relationships and trends.

Quality Models and Measures

Quality models have been developed for the measurement of quality of the product without which productivity is meaningless. These quality models can be combined with productivity model for measuring the correct productivity. These models are usually constructed in a tree-like fashion. The upper branches hold important high level quality factors such as reliability and usability.

The notion of divide and conquer approach has been implemented as a standard approach to measuring software quality.

Reliability Models

Most quality models include reliability as a component factor, however, the need to predict and measure reliability has led to a separate specialization in reliability modeling and prediction. The basic problem in reliability theory is to predict when a system will eventually fail.

Performance Evaluation and Models

It includes externally observable system performance characteristics such as response times and completion rates, and the internal working of the system such as the efficiency of algorithms. It is another aspect of quality.

Structural and Complexity Metrics

Here we measure the structural attributes of representations of the software, which are available in advance of execution. Then we try to establish empirically predictive theories to support quality assurance, quality control, and quality prediction.

Capability Maturity Assessment

This model can assess many different attributes of development including the use of tools, standard practices and more. It is based on the key practices that every good contractor should be using.

Management by Metrics

For managing the software project, measurement has a vital role. For checking whether the project is on track, users and developers can rely on the measurement-based chart and graph. The standard set of measurements and reporting methods are especially important when the software is embedded in a product where the customers are not usually well-versed in software terminology.

Evaluation of Methods and Tools

This depends on the experimental design, proper identification of factors likely to affect the outcome and appropriate measurement of factor attributes.