16-04-2012, 12:09 PM
COSMIC
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INTRODUCTION
Functional size measurement is regarded as a key aspect in the production, calibration and use of software engineering productivity model. The Common Software Measurement International Consortium (COSMIC) was formed to develop a new set of functional size measures that draw upon the best features of IFPUG,MARK II, FFP ,etc.Cosmic can not only be applied to real-time or embedded system but also to a variety of technical and system software and to some MIS software. The desirable characteristics of the measures COSMIC aims to evolve are:
a) Size should be measured from user requirements.
b) The method should be academically sound and compatible with the modern ways of stating requirements.(but independent of specific methods).
c) The measurement should be compatible with the ISO 14143 standards that have been developed.
The COSMIC project was commenced in November 1998.It is a private self-funded initiative. Participants in this include experts-both academic and practioners from Australia, Europe and North America. Participants include person well known for their experience and knowledge of IFPUG methods, MARK II, FFP and for their contribution to the ISO working committee for the ISO 14143 standard.
MOTIVATION OF IMPROVEMENTS
The Full Function Points measurement method has not only been applied to real-time or embedded software, but also to a variety of technical and system software and to some MIS software. Applying the method to such a wide range of software the method to such a wide range of software revealed.
a) The need to improve the mechanism by which the functional user requirements embedded in the software engineering artifacts are mapped onto the base functional components to measure the functional size of the corresponding software.
b) The need to refine the concept ”software boundary” in order to address functional user requirements allocated not only to the pieces of software interaction with end user, but also to the pieces of supporting software which is a part of operating environment when all these are part of a given project.
c) The need to simplify the set BFC used to measure the functional size of software.
d) The need to increase the flexibility in order to offer scalable result.
COSMIC-FFP version 2
In November of 1999, the group published version 2.0 of COSMIC-FFP [23], a measurement method implementing these principles, and put its measurement manual on the Web for public access. Overall, close to 40 people from 8 countries participated in the design of this measurement method. The COSMIC-FFP measurement method explicitly defines a measurement system which includes a measurement principle, base functional components, a standard unit of measure and an aggregation function.
COSMIC VERSION 3
The purpose of the COSMIC method is to provide a standardized method of measuring a functionalsize of software from the functional domains commonly referred to as ‘business application’ (or ‘MIS’) software and ‘real-time’ software. The COSMIC method was accepted by ISO/IEC JTC1 SC7 in December 2002 as International Standard ISO/IEC 19761 ‘Software Engineering – COSMIC-FFP – A functional size measurement method’ (hereafter referred to as ‘ISO/IEC 19761’).
Consequences of the main changes on existing size measurements
The original principles of the COSMIC method have remained unchanged since they were first published in the first draft of the Measurement Manual in 1999, in spite of the refinements and additions needed to produce the International Standard and when producing versions 2.1, 2.2, 3.0 and this latest version 3.0.1 of the Measurement Manual. Functional sizes measured according to the principles and rules of versions 3.0 and 3.0.1 of the Measurement Manual may differ from sizes measured using earlier versions only because the new rules
intend to be more precise.
CONCLUSION
This paper has presented the highlights of COSMIC version, the comparisons between them. And all COSMIC method documents and guidelines contain a ‘Change Request and Comment Procedure’. With the publication of version 3.0.1 of the method, there are no outstanding Method Update Bulletins affecting the Measurement Manual. Also the basic size measurement model, principles and rules have not changed since the method was first published in 1999.