Applicability of Machine Learning Methods on Mobile App Effort Estimation: Validation and Performance Evaluation

Abstract

Software cost estimation is one of the most crucial tasks in a software development life cycle. Some well-proven methods and techniques have been developed for effort estimation in case of classical software. Mobile applications (apps) are different from conventional software by their nature, size and operational environment; therefore, the established estimation models for traditional desktop or web applications may not be suitable for mobile app development. The objective of this paper is to propose a framework for mobile app project estimation. The research methodology adopted in this work is based on selecting different features of mobile apps from the SAMOA dataset. These features are later used as input vectors to the selected machine learning (ML) techniques. The results of this research experiment are measured in mean absolute residual (MAR). The experimental outcomes are then followed by the proposition of a framework to recommend an ML algorithm as the best match for superior effort estimation of a project in question. This framework uses the Mamdani-type fuzzy inference method to address the ambiguities in the decision-making process. The outcome of this work will particularly help mobile app estimators, development professionals, and industry at large to determine the required efforts in the projects accurately.