Tuesday, July 22, 2008
SmartFP™ paper (and tool) online
As promised, I've uploaded a free, simple tool to calculate Function Points using a decision tree. I've also uploaded a (draft) paper describing the overall approach. The paper is still missing a case study, which would help, but I just wanted to put the whole thing online. I'll add the case study, and a few more details, before submitting the paper for publication.
The decision tree approach is quite simple, especially if you have some knowledge of function points. Although it may seem like a small change in perspective from the usual "counting" approach, the result is that we can save a lot of time doing a function point estimate, and in many cases we also get more robust results.
Experiences and feedback are welcome, as usual. You can find the whole thing on the SmartFP page.
Note: as I plan to make more tools and libraries freely available, I've also created a new "tools" page. So far, there is only a link to BetterEstimate and SmartFP, but more will come...
The decision tree approach is quite simple, especially if you have some knowledge of function points. Although it may seem like a small change in perspective from the usual "counting" approach, the result is that we can save a lot of time doing a function point estimate, and in many cases we also get more robust results.
Experiences and feedback are welcome, as usual. You can find the whole thing on the SmartFP page.
Note: as I plan to make more tools and libraries freely available, I've also created a new "tools" page. So far, there is only a link to BetterEstimate and SmartFP, but more will come...
Labels: project management, requirements, tools
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Almost there
In a previois post I mentioned I'll soon add a new [draft] paper to my website, together with a free tool. It's almost done: I just have to add a short case study and review the text a little. Or maybe I'll leave the case study for the next revision, dunno yet.
The tool has been put to use for a while now, and it seems like it's doing its [simple] job. The icon is ugly but I can live with that :-).
So, everything should be in place in the next few days. Then I'll work on the paper a little more and see if it can get past the academic publishing gates :-).
The tool has been put to use for a while now, and it seems like it's doing its [simple] job. The icon is ugly but I can live with that :-).
So, everything should be in place in the next few days. Then I'll work on the paper a little more and see if it can get past the academic publishing gates :-).
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Quote of the Day
"Out of clutter find simplicity;
From discord find harmony;
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
Albert Einstein
Note: I was teaching requirements engineering today, and I spent more time than usual talking about viewpoints, task descriptions, personas, the need for the analyst to invent requirements and so on.
For some reason, while walking to the hotel those words of wisdom came back to my mind. Indeed, those principles apply equally well to analysis, design, or coding, and in a sense, they are at the core of quality software development.
The pursuit of simplicity and harmony is a recurring theme in Einstein's writings, some of which I've quoted before .
From discord find harmony;
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
Albert Einstein
Note: I was teaching requirements engineering today, and I spent more time than usual talking about viewpoints, task descriptions, personas, the need for the analyst to invent requirements and so on.
For some reason, while walking to the hotel those words of wisdom came back to my mind. Indeed, those principles apply equally well to analysis, design, or coding, and in a sense, they are at the core of quality software development.
The pursuit of simplicity and harmony is a recurring theme in Einstein's writings, some of which I've quoted before .
Labels: profession, quote
