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COSMIC Software Sizing

COSMIC (Counting Software Objects Using a Measurement Method) is a software sizing method that is used to measure the functional size of software. The COSMIC method measures the functional size of software by counting the number of functional processes that are performed by the software. These functional processes are represented as "software objects" that are independent of the technology or language used to implement the software.

The COSMIC method is based on the concept of a "transaction", which is a logical unit of work performed by the software. Each transaction is broken down into smaller functional processes, which are then counted to determine the functional size of the software.

The COSMIC method is designed to be language- and technology-independent, meaning that it can be used to size software regardless of the programming language or platform used to develop it. This makes the COSMIC method particularly useful for comparing the size and complexity of software systems that are developed using different technologies.

The COSMIC method is used by software development organizations to estimate the effort required to develop or modify software, to measure the productivity of development teams, and to compare the size and complexity of software systems.

To illustrate some key concepts of COSMIC software sizing, consider the following example:

Example: A software development organization is developing a new inventory management system for a retail company. The system is being developed using a combination of Java and Python programming languages.

Using the COSMIC method, the developers identify the transactions performed by the system, such as "Add Item to Inventory", "Remove Item from Inventory", and "Update Inventory Quantity". Each transaction is broken down into smaller functional processes, such as "Validate Item Code", "Update Inventory Database", and "Notify User".

The developers then count the number of functional processes to determine the functional size of the system. Based on the number of functional processes identified, the developers estimate the effort required to develop the system, as well as the size and complexity of the system compared to other software systems developed using different technologies.

In conclusion, COSMIC software sizing is a method used to measure the functional size of software by counting the number of functional processes performed by the software. The COSMIC method is language- and technology-independent, making it useful for comparing the size and complexity of software systems developed using different technologies. The COSMIC method is used by software development organizations to estimate the effort required to develop or modify software, to measure the productivity of development teams, and to compare the size and complexity of software systems.


See Also

  1. Function Point Analysis (FPA)
  2. Software Measurement
  3. Software Metrics
  4. Software Estimation Techniques
  5. Software Quality Assurance (SQA)
  6. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
  7. Requirements Engineering
  8. Project Management
  9. Application Lifecycle Management (ALM)
  10. Software Testing


References