An Investigation of the Relationship between Initial and Final Programming Effort Estimates
Andrew S. Wang · Purdue e-Pubs (Purdue University System) · 1981
ABS1'IIAC'I'This study considered the abiliLy of several eCTort measures to predicL both total cfTorl and debugging eITorL when applied to the fIrst compiled version of a program.The data came from twcntyseven Fortran programs ranging in size from severaL lines to nearly two hundred and l'cqulring from one Lo over four hours to produce.All measures WC1'C found to be cOllsistent (Le., the measures applied to fmal versions correlated well with the same measures upplied La initial compiled versiolls).Mcusures based on the soflwdL"c science 1;:, cyclomaLic complexity v(G), and lines of coele all were good predicLors of boLh debugging Lime and Lotal time.A measure "program changes" was a modcraLely good estimator of debug lime.Thc "number of runs" was the worst predictor in both situations.J(eywnrcL... • fJ.nd