System and method for function point sampling for software size estimates
View Patent ↗A system, method, and computer program product for estimating the function point count of a software application or portfolio. Strata are defined, and random samples are chosen for a function point count. Results are analyzed and quantified, and a confidence interval is determined to qualify the accuracy of the estimate.
1. A method for estimating the function point count of software, comprising:
dividing a software package into multiple strata;
determining a sample size for each strata;
selecting a plurality of the strata;
counting the function points of each of the plurality of the strata;
performing a statistical analysis of the plurality of the strata, the counted function points, and the software package; and
determining an estimated function point count and associated confidence interval for the software package.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software package is a single software application.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software package is a software application portfolio.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accounting for shared transactions among multiple strata.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accounting for shared data types among multiple strata.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical analysis includes determining at least one function point statistical data selected from the group consisting of mean, variance, standard error of strata, standard error of population, and population mean.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cataloging the software package.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying that the estimated function point count meets a predetermined precision.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strata are selected at random.
10. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, comprising:
instructions for dividing a software package into multiple strata;
instructions for determining a sample size for each strata;
instructions for selecting a plurality of the strata;
instructions for counting the function points of each of the plurality of the strata;
instructions for performing a statistical analysis of the plurality of the strata, the counted function points, and the software package; and
instructions for determining an estimated function point count and associated confidence interval for the software package.
11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the software package is a single software application.
12. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the software package is a software application portfolio.
13. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for accounting for shared transactions among multiple strata.
14. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for accounting for shared data types among multiple strata.
15. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the statistical analysis includes determining at least one function point statistical data selected from the group consisting of mean, variance, standard error of strata, standard error of population, and population mean.
16. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for cataloging the software package.
17. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for verifying that the estimated function point count meets a predetermined precision.
18. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of strata are selected at random.