Measuring software development status: Do we really know where we are?
Putnam P. Texel · 2015
Measuring software development status has not kept pace with the evolution of software development technologies, specifically programming languages and software development methodologies. A meta-analysis revealed (1) the inability of current metrics to address software status, (2) multiple problems with source lines of code (SLOC): lack of consensus on counting rules, wide variations in code counts provided by code counting tools, wide variations due to programming style and programming language, (3) lack of support from standards and reports, and (4) limited applicability of current metrics to progress/status of each of the life cycle phases. Given such a wide range of issues, it is time to seriously challenge how software status is currently assessed and reported. There is a gap in current measurement mechanisms related to assessing and reporting software status that needs to be filled.