The Common Software Measurement International Consortium
advancing software functional size measurement
Information about the COSMIC Method and the answers to some frequently asked questions
Updated The
History of Software Functional Size Measurement (FSM)
What is Functional Size?
The importance of measuring Functional
Size?
Updated How does the COSMIC method work?
What advantages does COSMIC offer
over other FSM methods?
What types of software has COSMIC been
applied to?
What policies and publications are available?
What is COSMIC, and how is it organised?
What papers and data have users of the
COSMIC method published?
What support is there for the method,
such as tools and training?
SMEF 2009
Call for Papers
EXTENSION AND UPDATES
(new deadlines – new duration – new fees)
28-29 May 2009 in Rome, Italy
(28 half day + 29 full day)
COSMIC Certification
Click here for details of the COSMIC Certification Scheme, and the register of certicate holders.
COSMIC/ISBSG Benchmark Data
AS a result of the "COSMIC/ISBSG Global Benchmarking 2009" initiative, data on over 150 COSMIC-measured projects has been added to the ISBSG database.
COSMIC and ISBSG invite your organization to contribute to this initiative. By contributing data you will receive a free report analysing all COSMIC-measured projects in the ISBSG database. For more details, and to download the quick data collection form, please visit:
http://www.isbsg.org/isbsgnew.nsf/WebPages/5B209139C303A799CA25754B0075E601?open
Business Applications Guidlines
A guide to the application of COSMIC to the domain of Business Applications
Downloads of this and other Cosmic publications including are available for free download from
The ‘COSMIC Method’, version 3.0 is now available
The Common Software Measurement International Consortium (‘COSMIC’) is pleased to announce that the major upgrade of the COSMIC Functional Size Measurement Method, version 3.0, is now available. The three documents listed below may now be down-loaded, free-of-charge, from the www.gelog.etsmtl.ca/cosmic website.
The three COSMIC Method v3.0 documents are:
· ‘Documentation Overview and Glossary of Terms’, which gives an overview of all COSMIC method documentation and lists and defines all terms that are common to all COSMIC documents
· ‘Method Overview’, which gives an introduction to the method for beginners and those interested in converting from ‘1st Generation’ FSM methods
· ‘Measurement Manual’, which is the main reference document for practical use of the method
A fourth document ‘Advanced and Related Topics’ dealing with subjects for experienced practitioners and on topics like conversion of sizes from other methods will be published before the end of 2007.
Version 3.0 represents the first major update of the COSMIC method for four years (the previous version was 2.2) and as the designation implies, the new documents contain important advances and clarifications of the method. Note, however, the basic model used to measure a functional size of software via the COSMIC method has not changed since it was first published in 1999.
The
most significant advance in version 3.0 is an improvement in the measurement
process by separating an initial ‘Measurement Strategy’ phase, which addresses
the question of which functional size to measure more clearly than
in previous versions.
A piece of software is like an irregular object, it has many functional
sizes. For example, a human user of a piece of software embedded in, say,
a domestic appliance sees less functionality than the hardware device 'users'
of the software that drive the appliance. In the 'Measurement Strategy'
phase, the measurer must consider several parameters before starting a measurement
to ensure that the results can be properly interpreted, used and compared
with other measurements.
The new material represents a major breakthrough for functional size measurement
in general, because the parameters are valid for all FSM Methods, not just
for the COSMIC method. The ideas will be especially important for
estimating methods and for all benchmarking activities.
Released by , for COSMIC
The United Kingdom Software Metrics Association is the host for the UK COSMIC Special Interest Group.
The
aim of the SIG is to provide a forum for current and prospective users of
the COSMIC method to meet together in the UK and to exchange information about
their experience in implementing and using COSMIC. Members will have direct
contact with COSMIC and its resources for help and advice, and to pass on
requests for improvement. This close relationship will ensure that the COSMIC
method truly meets the needs of its users. If you are interested in participating
in the Group please
Announcement
The British Computer Society has recognized in July 2006 COSMIC as one of its ‘Technology Award Medallist’ in the ‘Services’ category.
Request for Feedback
1000+ copies of the Cosmic Measurement Manual and other documents have been downloaded. The people running COSMIC would like to hear about the experiences users have had in implementing the method.
We would appreciate it if you could send any feedback you might have to
We are particularly interested in the types of software being measured, and your opinions, favourable or otherwise.
CONTACT
For
further information about COSMIC please email:
Further International Acceptance of COSMIC
On Dec.20th 2006, COSMIC was approved as a national standard in Japan and issued as JIS X 0143.
(COSMIC has also been translated in Spanish and is a Spanish national standard)
