Iwsm2014 application of function points to software based on open source - a case study (donatien koulla moulla)

IWSM Mensura 2014

Moulla Donatien KoullaUniversity of Ngaoundere (Cameroon)

Application of Function points to Software Based

on Open Source: A Case Study

Overview Introduction Presentation of TRIADE and the

methodology used for its adaptation Results Limitations of the estimate approach Conclusion and future works

APPLICATION OF FUNCTION POINTS ON OPEN SOURCE


University of Ngaoundere

Introduction to Open Source

Many software is developed from Open Source

There is a crucial need to estimate the efforts spent in a project development based on Open Source

There are very few technical details about the effort required to implement functionalities


Objective

To adapt Open Source software called TRIADE

To show that the development of applications based on Open Source has many advantages in terms of efforts

Introduction to the case


Presentation of TRIADE


The users of the platform

The source code of the application


Adaptation methodology

Homepage of the Application

Administrator identification space

Private space

Messenger space

Management space

Transfer space

Institution space

News space

Student space

Student life space

Transcript space

Additional modules space

Head of Department identification space

Private space

Messenger space

Management space

Transfer space

News space

Student space

Student life space

Transcript space

Additional modules space

Student affairs' office identification space

Private space

Messenger space

Management space

Accounting space

News space

Student space

Lecturer identification space

Private space

Messenger space

Mark space

Student space

Administration space

Student identification space

Private space

Messenger space

Student life space

Teaching or pedagogical space


Functional architecture

Step 1: Estimating the number of Lines of Code of basic TRIADE and function points matching

Step 2: Estimating the number of Lines of Code of the adapted version of TRIADE and function points matching

Step 3: Determining the difference between the two versions and the function points matching

Case study procedure


Language Lines of Code (SLOC)

Function points

PHP 891,849 85.66% 16,723XML 88,658 8.52% 693

ANSI C 51,074 4.91% 399Java 8,940 0.86% 168Perl 525 0.05% 15

Python 115 0.01% 2SH 25 < 0.01% 00

TOTAL 1,041,186 (100%) 18,000

The unadapted TRIADE application


The adapted TRIADE application



Function points

PHP 999,992 87.01% 18,750XML 88,662 7.71% 693

ANSI C 51,074 4.44% 399Java 8,940 0.78% 168Perl 525 0.05% 15

Python 115 0.01% 2SH 25 < 0.01% 0

Pascal 12 < 0.01% 0TOTAL 1,149,3

45 (100%) 20,027

The adaptation of TRIADE



Function points

PHP 108,143 99.98% 2,027XML 4 <0.01% 0

Pascal 12 <0.01% 0TOTAL 108,159 (100%) 2,027

Effort required to develop the adapted version of TRIADE = the effort required to produce 2,027 function points

Adaptation of TRIADE can decrease in function points up to 90% compared to the development from scratch

Results


Limitations Conversion factors used have been disputed

and software measurement experts agree that we should proceed with caution when using them

Margins of error of these conversion factors remain unknown

Paper only measures the size of the functionality to be implemented


Conclusion1. This work addresses the issue of effort estimation

for the adaptation of software based on Open Source

2. This could build a way out in the African context where the prices of proprietary software are often very high

3. This is a potential source for the development of African countries

4. The present study might constitute a research frame on the development and/or validation of a model of cost estimation of software development based on Open Source


Future workFuture work should preferably focus on exact measure of function points, instead of using conversion factors which are bereft of known error margins We however think to use tools that help extracting FP directly from source code based on data movements

we plan to deploy them in replication studies as part of our research. Only then we could reduce the possible threats to validity due to FP extraction. We will also include quality analysis related to TRIADE



It is necessary for a good book to have critics. Virulent and negative criticism isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a work of art. What is unthinkable is when no one says anything about it.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux