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Function Points Backfired for 1965
Function points had not been invented, so all data were measured using lines of
code. Backfiring or mathematical conversion from lines of code (LOC) to function
points show these results for a project of 1,000 function points in this decade:
• Source code for 1,000 function points: 160,000 logical code statements
• Programming language: Macro assembly
• Reuse percentage: 0% to 5%
• Methodology: Unstructured cowboy development
• Productivity: 5 function points per staff month
• Defect potentials: 6 per function point
• Defect removal efficiency (DRE): 83%
• Delivered defects: 1.02 defects per function point
• Ratio of development personnel to maintenance:
•
Development: 90%
•
Maintenance: 10%
The following are the background data for 1965:
• Average language level: 2.0
• Number of programming languages: 10
• Logical statements per function point: 160
• Average application size: 600 function points
• Average application size: 96,000 logical code statements
Note
The phrase “language level” was developed within IBM circa 1968
and refers to the power of a language relative to basic assembly
language. Thus, for a level 2 language, it would require two state-
ments in basic assembly language to produce the functionality of
one statement in the target language. The level concept is still in
use today. For example, Java is ranked as a level 6 language. Levels
are based on logical code statements, not physical lines of code.
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