Software Measurement and Metrics

Software Measurement: A measurement is an manifestation of the size, quantity, amount or dimension of a particular attributes of a product or process. Software measurement is a titrate impute of a characteristic of a software product or the software process. It is an authority within software engineering. Software measurement process is defined and governed by ISO Standard.

Need of Software Measurement:
Software is measured to:

1. Create the quality of the current product or process.
2. Anticipate future qualities of the product or process.
3. Enhance the quality of a product or process.
4. Regulate the state of the project in relation to budget and schedule.

Classification of Software Measurement:
There are 2 types of software measurement:

1. Direct Measurement:
   In direct measurement the product, process or thing is measured directly using standard scale.
2. Indirect Measurement:
   In indirect measurement the quantity or quality to be measured is measured using related parameter i.e. by use of reference.

Metrics:
A metrics is a measurement of the level that any impute belongs to a system product or process. There are 4 functions related to software metrics:

1. Planning
2. Organizing
3. Controlling
4. Improving

Characteristics of software Metrics:

1. Quantitative:
   Metrics must possess quantitative nature.It means metrics can be expressed in values.
2. Understandable:
   Metric computation should be easily understood ,the method of computing metric should be clearly defined.
3. Applicability:
   Metrics should be applicable in the initial phases of development of the software.
4. Repeatable:
   The metric values should be same when measured repeatedly and consistent in nature.
5. Economical:
   Computation of metric should be economical.
6. Language Independent:
   Metrics should not depend on any programming language.

Classification of Software Metrics:
There are 2 types of software metrics:

1. Product Metrics:
   Product metrics are used to evaluate the state of the product, tracing risks and undercovering prospective problem areas. The ability of team to control quality is evaluated.
2. Process Metrics:
   Process metrics pay particular attention on enhancing the long term process of the team or organisation.
3. Project Metrics:
   Project matrix is describes the project characteristic and execution process.
   • Number of software developer
   • Staffing pattern over the life cycle of software
   • Cost and schedule
   • Productivity

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