SoftwareExpert

Reiner Dumke

About this app

SoftwareExpert helps to accurately measure the software scope. This
app serves mainly for the application of the COSMIC Function Point
method ( as International Standard ISO/IEC 19761) in a simplified form
(as LeanCOSMIC) and can be used via the button "Software Sizing". Up
to 20 so-called functional processes and up to 15 associated data groups
(as identification of the COSMIC metrics (data movement)) can be
defined/acquired. The determination of the COSMIC Function Points
(CFP) with the four sub metrics Entries, Exits, Reads and Writes then
takes place via the COSMIC Sizing Button whereby each functional
process receives its CFP and the total CFP (Total CFP) is then
displayed. This app also enables the application of a shortened
COSMIC method as Early & Quick Method and the local extension
approach of the process CFPs (e.g. by considering the "inner" functional
scope) as Extend Method.
The special benefit of this app is the possibility (in the Estimate button) to
use the estimation formulas and relations known from the international
experience for the effort, the productivity, the project duration and much
more due to a circumference measurement (mainly as CFP). Some of
these estimates are displayed under the Project Dashboard button as a
general overview. If other circumference measurements are given (e.g.
as LOC, IFPUG Function Points, Story Points etc.) a conversion can be
done under Convert before and the estimation formulas can be used on
this basis.
The informative part of this app is supplemented by an overview of some
of the very classic experiences of software engineering (as Software
experiences).
The measurement data can be provided with an identification and stored
within the app (and reloaded later). Some examples (mostly from the
COSMIC community) are already available for the app user. For helpful
information the app pages contain links to the COSMIC community, to
SML@b, to our metrics bibliography on our GI website as well as to the
risks of Peter Neumann and a SWEBOK classification for software
engineering in general.
This App is useful for short and fast project controlling in the agile
development and as educational support for computer science students
and professionals based on the current knowledge in empirical software
engineering.