Function point

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A function point is a unit of measurement to express the amount of business functionality an information system provides to a user.

Function points are an ISO recognized software metric to size an information system based on the functionality that is perceived by the user of the information system, independent of the technology used to implement the information system.

Function Points were defined in 1979 (Function Points: A New Way of Looking at Tools) by Alan Albrecht at IBM.

The method of measuring the size of an information system and expressing it in a number of function points is called Function Point Analysis. The method is kept up to date by worldwide cooperating FPA user groups like NESMA and IFPUG.

[edit] See also

• Function Point Analysis
• Source lines of code
• COCOMO

[edit] External links

• Function Points: A New Way of Looking at Tools" article in Computer magazine by Capers Jones.
• Resource Standard Metrics Use Lines of Code to back fire function points and create cross correlated estimates - Available for limited free use that is ideal for computer science course.
• The Netherlands Software Metrics users Association (NESMA)
• The International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG)
• The COmmon Software Measurement International Consortium
• Function Point Analysis in FOLDOC
• Function Point Analysis in Software Technology Roadmap