Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
There is a mathematical technique called
backfiring
that can
convert counts of logical code statements into equivalent function
point counts, but this method is not accurate due to wide variations
in individual programming styles. Backfiring was first developed
in IBM by Al Albrecht and his team, who invented function points
in the early 1970s at the IBM location in White Plains, New York.
There is also a modern and patented high-speed sizing method-
ology based on pattern matching that can size applications in fewer
than two minutes regardless of their nominal size, but this method
is so new that no data using it are in the ISBSG repository. This
method is owned by Namcook Analytics LLC.
Another new method of
automated function point
has been an-
nounced as a standard by the Object Management Group (OMG),
but no data are yet available using this approach.
The IFPUG issued a new size metric in 2012 that measures non-
functional requirements. An example of a nonfunctional require-
ment would be for special features that improve security or per-
formance but are not counted using function point analysis. This
new approach is called SNAP metrics. Because it is so new, empir-
ical data and measured results are just starting to appear in 2013.
No doubt these data will be added to the ISBSG repository in the
future as they become available.
The ISBSG's data collection method uses a relatively sophisticated question-
naire that captures useful information about software methodologies, program-
ming languages, and other factors that influence software project results.
The ISBSG business model provides the input questionnaire to all clients free
of charge, so there is no charge to have data submitted to the ISBSG repository.
There are charges for extracting data from the repository, but they are not excess-
ive.
The ISBSG data can be sorted and selected to show a number of subtopics of
interest. For example, there are data on new projects and maintenance and en-
hancements; there are data on large systems and small applications; there are data
on Agile projects and waterfalls; there are data on COBOL applications and C11
applications. The ISBSG provides a number of useful filters so that clients can ex-
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