40 Years Journey of Function Point Analysis: Against Real-time and Multimedia Applications

Abstract

For various project of software development, the size, effort, and cost are essential aspects for planning schedules and control software development to achieve the preferred outcome. These aspects require a method to measure software accurately and reliably. Function Point Analysis is used as a standard method for that purpose. It is now 40 years old since Albrecht founded it in 1979. Bringing its advantages and some of the drawbacks from earlier versions, this method is now faced with current software development needs, namely, the real-time and the multimedia applications. Broadly translated our findings indicate that current software development does not only focus on system functionality, but non-functional factors also begin to influence the value of a system for the users. Therefore, in 40 years journey of Function Point Analysis, this method is not adequate for current software development, especially in real-time and multimedia applications because of the inability to measure non-functional factors.