And I agree with Uday and Rick. The long-time assumption behind most software development is 'commodity'-status; never mind that code-lines are not just generic items but are targeted for very specific functionality.
Actually, the 'lines-of-code' thinking of management was obsolete even in the 1980s (please see the timeless text 'Mythical Man-Month', Frederick Brooks, ca 1974). I stopped participating in estimates/assessments along those lines years ago. Or, another example from my engineering background-an invoice from a consultant: 1. Chalk mark designating location of leak : $5.00 2. Analysis to find WHERE to place mark : $19,995.00 Please make check payable to .......... Phrased another way-few measures of lines, objects, filters, etc, will assess the effort necessary to structure/implement/verify a solution to a client's complex functional requirement-----and then ensure the solution performs those functions, WITHOUT BREAKING ANYTHING ELSE (sound familiar to ITSM7 folks-or Microsoft patch implementers????). Don W. McClure, P.E. Data Administrator & System Engineer Computing & IT Center, Call Tracking Administration University of North Texas, Denton dwmac_at_unt.edu "That which counts cannot necessarily be counted: that which can be counted will not always count." -- Albert Einstein From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Uday Joshi Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: "Lines of code" in Remedy? ** I fully agree with Rick. The line of code is an easy metric for other programming but does not reflect the quality and/or efficiency. But still all involved feel homely (just because of familiarity) with these figures. I feel this figure only indicates how much you can produce. Its like how many bricks a mason can put in a day, irrespective whether it wall of house or great wall of China. For Remedy I feel more than line of code, function points could be more appropriate. Of course it wont be a ready fit but it would be closest and would require minimal alteration. I have not tried but it is on my wish list. Just to add about the efficiency of code I can give an example of innocent looking filter putting system to task only because both "Submit" and "Modify" was checked (Actually intended was only Modify). Best Regards, Uday Joshi Delivery Manager - BSM Support Technology Infrastructure Services - BSM Unit ------------------------------------------------------ Wipro Technologies, Hinjewadi, Pune 411057 Tel: +91 20 39104092 VOIP 842-5103 ________________________________ From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Cook Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 07:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: "Lines of code" in Remedy? ** And what's really stupid about the "lines of code" in a generic, non-Remedy sense, is that quantity often != quality. Good programmers might have the same number of lines in a program as a poor programmer, but a substantial percentage of that is going to be internal code documentation around tight subroutines and functions. Poor programmers (believe me, I've seen some doozys) often write lots of lines that run inefficiently. Same number, completely different levels of effort and expertise to reproduce. So while the metric, however important, has no real value outside of Remedy, it has even less relevance and value inside of it. So I would resist providing a bogus number until its intended use was very clearly specified, so that I could provide the bogus number that best protected my application. Just my $0.02 from another old keypunch warhorse. Rick On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 5:54 AM, Kaiser Norm E CIV USAF 96 CS/SCCE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: Oh contraire! Since the 1980s?! You'd be shocked. It seems like a biggie with CMM/CMMI organizations. Both Gary (who posted earlier) and I have worked in CMM/CMMI controlled organizations, and evidently lines of code is a big metric within it...at least for some organizations. Although I do definitely agree with you that it's 100% stupid. -----Original Message----- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) __Platinum Sponsor: www.rmsportal.com ARSlist: "Where the Answers Are" html___ Please do not print this email unless it is absolutely necessary. The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments. WARNING: Computer viruses can be transmitted via email. 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