Applying Software Metrics

Rating:
Summary: Practical and rich with information on the subject
Review: This book is a coherent collection of articles covering the whys, whats and hows of applying software metrics. Unlike other books that are actually compendiums, this one reads and is structured as though a single author wrote it. Moreover, it is not high-level theory, but a practical book that thoroughly explains how to actually apply software metrics.

Chapter 1, "Why Measure" contains seven articles by industry experts that make a strong case for measurement and its benefits. The three most important articles are Software Risk Management by Barry W. Boehm, Successfully Applying Software Metrics by Robert B. Grady, and Using Metrics to Manage Software Projects by Edward F. Weller. Readers familiar with top experts in the field will recognize the names of the authors, which indicates the highly credible material.

What to measure is covered in Chapter 2, and of the five articles, "Software Metrics in the Process Maturity Framework" by Shari Lawrence Pfleeger and Clement McGowan is (in my opinion) the most useful. Chapters 3 (How is Measuring Done?) and 4 (How are Metrics Used?) collectively contain eleven articles, and it is in these chapters where the most practical information is imparted. Among the articles I found especially useful and practical are - Key Lessons in Achieving Widespread Inspection Use by Robert B. Grady and Tom Van Slack, A Case Study in SQA Audits by Paul W. Oman, and Using Metrics to Evaluate Software System Maintainability. The book ends with the five articles in Chapter 5, which address how to improve a metrics program. Each of the articles provides insights into one or more aspects of a software metrics program process improvement initiative.

This book is better suited to software engineering managers and SQA professionals. Because the material presented is not deeply technical, and supports making a business case for implementing a software metrics program, this book is also valuable to IT managers and CIOs.