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Estimating

Last post 03-12-2008 6:05 PM by Steve McConnell. 1 replies.
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  • 03-12-2008 4:38 PM

    Estimating

    I'm using both Steve's book and Estimate 2.0.  I know the product being developed will consist of approximately 25,000 LOC.  Does Estimate or COCOMO II use that number to infer lines of test code that need to be written.  Should I give Estimate a starting number of 25K + Test LOC in order to get a better estimate?

    Another take on the same question:  Look at table 21-4 on page 236.  The 25 KLOC project shows a System Test effort allocation at 23%.  I think this refers to executing the tests.  If I'm going to try and create automated regression tests, it seems like I should add the estimated LOC for those to the LOC of the product code itself in order to get a good estimate.

    Thanks for any help.

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  • 03-12-2008 6:05 PM In reply to

    Re: Estimating

    Lines of code in all cases refer to the "delivered lines of source code" -- test code isn't used as input. However, the effort estimate you get by using delivered lines of source code includes the test effort, including the effort to write the lines of test code.

    In general, delivered lines of source code are simply used as the most commonly available, most commonly "best" proxy for the overall scope of the project. Thus you estimate all other effort on a project (analysis, documentation, defect corrections, talking to customers, project management, etc.) using that one "lines of code" number as input. Obviously documentation isn't actually performed in terms of "lines of code," but the size of the project in lines of code can give you an idea of how much effort is needed, including documentation effort. Test effort is the same. Size in delivered lines of code gives a good proxy for test effort. The fact that the specific test activity happens to also generate lines of code is just a coincidence, and doesn't need to be considered in creating the estimate. Thus the 23% number you mention from Table 21-4 includes *all* the test effort -- writing test code, executing test code, reviewing and correcting test code, etc.

    Bottom line is you should use 25 KLOC as the input.

     Hope this helps!

    Cheers,
    Steve McConnell
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