Software measurement: A conceptual framework

Abstract A conceptual framework that gives a rationalized overview of the subject of software measurement is presented. The framework is based on 1. (a) a rigorous approach to measurement extracted from basic ideas in measurement theory, and 2. (b) a classification scheme that partitions the domain of software production by considering the entities that are amenable to measurement. This framework is proposed as a conceptual basis for the teaching material to be produced by the “METKIT” (Metrics Educational ToolKIT) ESPRIT project; in particular, it gives rise to a systematic classification of the subject matter of Software Measurement.