THE DACS PRODUCTIVITY DATASET
The DACS Productivity Dataset consists of summary
data on over 500 software projects. It is useful in
software cost modeling
and productivity analysis.
The original dataset was compiled by Richard Nelson of then Rome Laboratory
(Software Data Collection and Analysis, Rome Air Development Center,
Rome, NY, September, 1978), whose intent was to collect data supporting the analysis
of the effect of implementation methodologies on productivity during software
development. The original dataset has been augmented since Mr. Nelson turned
it over to the DACS. The data was obtained from open literature and private
sources in industry and government and represents software development projects
dating from the early 1960s through the early 1980s. Software applications range
from avionics and spaceflight command and control functions and radar system
support to off-the-shelf software packages, communications software, and
management information systems. Most projects in the dataset represent
defense or other government applications.
You can use this database to examine the
distributions of particular parameters or to
establish relationships between pairs of parameters.
Essentially, eight parameters are used to describe
each software project in the dataset. Not every parameter has been recorded
for every project in the dataset. The following table displays the number of
project records where each of six primary data items are recorded.
This table also displays the number of projects represented by
combinations of each pair of these parameters.
Selected Parameters in the Productivity Dataset
| Parameter | Projects | DSLOC | TMM | LANG | TM | DOC
|
| Size (DSLOC) | 509 | | | | | |
| Effort (TMM) | 487 | 485 | | | | |
| Languages (LANG) | 458 | 453 | 436 | | | |
| Schedule (TM) | 411 | 409 | 405 | 388 | | |
| Documentation
(DOC) | 346 | 344 | 339 | 324 | 341 | |
| Errors (ERRS) | 52 | 52 | 38 | 41 | 39 | 25 |
| Total Projects | 515 | | | | | |
Note: The numbers in this table represent the number of projects in the
dataset where both the row and column parameters specifying a particular box
are recorded. (For example, 485 projects contain both TMM and DSLOC information.)
The complete DACS Productivity Dataset can be ordered from the DACS.
The DACS distributes the DACS Productivity Dataset on a floppy disk formatted
for IBM-PCs and compatibles.
This dataset may be purchased using the
DACS Store or by contacting:
cust-liasn@dacs.dtic.mil
|
DACS Gold Practice Initiative
