A New Cost Estimation Technique for Object-Oriented Systems

摘要

Modern day computing constitutes software elements that are very expensive. Hence it is very essential to handle these elements with care. These elements are so fragile that a slight variation in rating analysis may lead to high degree of unexpected losses. The above stated scenario holds good for object -oriented systems. Many estimation techniques have been proposed for traditional systems. The technique that first incorporated the characteristics of the OO systems in its model was COCOMO model developed by Dr. Barry Boehm in 1981. Its variation namely the Post-Architectural model has 17 cost drivers to rate the system inclusive of an eminent characteristic of OO systems such as "Reusability". Boehm has proposed a set of equations that estimate cost as a factor of SLOC and effort. This paper proposes an empirical model that estimates cost as a factor of Effort Adjustment Factors (EAF). Post - Architectural model of COCOMO II being the baseline of this study, suggests that cost can also be computed from EAF that exhibit distinctly the characteristics of OO systems namely Reusability, Understandability, Maintainability etc. Studies have been carried out on several JAVA projects by collecting metrics through a new object-oriented metric tool called "JAVA CODE ANALYZER". The rating of the cost drivers is strictly based on the metrics. An incremental analysis of projects led to a constant which is an average of the "Cost/EAF" factor. The findings of this study proposes a derived constant. "Cost/EAF "which could be used to estimate the cost of the future OO systems at an early phase by obtaining the EAF of the system to be developed. Since this kind of estimation is not purely based on SLOC or effort and on the contrary it is computed through EAF of the system to be developed it would be a closer approximation of the actual cost after its development.