Function points as a universal software metric

Abstract

Function point metrics are the most accurate and effective metrics yet developed for software sizing and also for studying software productivity, quality, costs, risks, and economic value. Unlike the older "lines of code" metric function points can be used to study requirements, design, and in fact all software activities from development through maintenance. In the future function point metrics can easily become a universal metric used for all software applications and for all software contracts in all countries. The government of Brazil already requires function points for all software contracts, and South Korea and Italy may soon follow. However, there are some logistical problems with function point metrics that need to be understood and overcome in order for function point metrics to become the primary metric for software economic analysis. Manual function point counting is too slow and costly to be used on large software projects above 10,000 function points in size. Also, application size is not constant but grows at about 2% per calendar month during development and 8% or more per calendar year for as long as software is in active use. This paper discusses a method of high-speed function point counting that can size any application in less than two minutes, and which can predict application growth during development and for five years after release. This new method is based on pattern matching and is covered by U.S. utility patent application and hence is patent pending.