Research And Practice In Consistency-Controlling Of Real-time Software Functional Size Measurement

Software size measurement plays an important role in software development.COSMIC FSM method is one of the main-steam FSM methods and widely used inbusiness application domain. Due to difficulties in understanding and applyingCOSMIC method and lack of measurement guideline, it couldn’t assure goodconsistency. This paper is focused on consistency-controlling of real-time softwarefunctional size measurement.Based on research and practice on COSMIC method, paper summarizes commoninconsistencies in real-time software measurements, assess their influence and analysiscauses. Then put forward consistency-controlling methods as resolving difficulties inCOSMIC method, proposing guidance of real-time software measurements, offeringiteration of some measurement elements and checklists of measurement stages. Practiceresult indicates that the consistency-controlling methods we proposed could improveconsistency of real-time software measurements efficiently.The main work of this paper is as follows:1. Researches on consistency problems in real-time software measurements. Paperextracts15types of common inconsistencies, analysises their underlying causes,assesses their influence, finding that three measurement steps about identifications oflayer, functional process and data movements give the most influences. Then analysisesboth subjective and objective origins of inconsistencies which will give evidence toconsistency-controlling methods.2. Putting forward consistency-controlling methods. Aiming at origins ofinconsistencies, when software artifacts are under control, paper proposes five aspectsof consistency-controlling methods: a)make software artifacts be understoodconsistently; b) ensure that measurers fully understand and apply COSMIC methodcorrectly; c) propose guidance of real-time software measurements; d) iterate importantmeasurement steps; e) prevent measurers from errors in measurements.3. Validating the consistency-controlling methods. Select and measure a real-timeproject with proposed consistency-controlling methods, validate whether or how muchthere’s actual effect in consistency-controlling. Practice result indicates that underconsistency-controlling variances are significantly decreased and measurement achievesa good consistency...