Software Engineering Resources
	Software Project Planning (Estimation) Software project planning actually encompasses all estimation, risk analysis, scheduling, and SQA/SCM planning. However, in the context of set of resources, planning involves estimation - your attempt to determine how much money, how much effort, how many resources, and how much time it will take to build a specific software-based system or product. The following topic categories are presented: Planning and Estimation Resources Estimation Tutorials, Articles and Papers Estimation Methods Estimation Tools Books Planning and Estimation Resources Software Project Estimation Resources - 1 Useful resources and on-line tools for estimation. Software Project Estimation Resources - 2 Useful resources and tools for estimation. NASA Cost Estimation An excellent collection of resources and on-line tools for software cost estimation including the book length NASA Cost Estimation Handbook. Highly recommended. DACS Estimation Resources Pointers to techniques, methods, and tools for planning, estimating, and monitoring the cost, budget, or schedule of a software project. Software Dioxide A useful collection of project planning resources. The Outsourcing Institute Useful information (detailed papers, pointers, recent news) on outsourcing can be obtained at this site. Estimation Tutorials, Articles and Papers Software Cost Estimation Overview A short paper on software cost estimation. Cost Estimation Approaches An in-depth tutorial on software cost estimation is presented along with discussion of algorithmic models, expert judgement, and machine learning approaches. Software Estimation Papers An extensive set of estimation papers compiled by software-engineer.org Parametric Estimating Handbook This comprehensive handbook is intended to be used as a general guide for implementing and evaluating parametric based estimating systems, and as the text material for a basic course in parametric estimating techniques. Recommended. Estimation and Historical Data A brief article in Crosstalk. Putnam's Estimation Models Information on Putnam's software estimation models and software metrics can be obtained at this site. The NVC (noun verb count) Method of Software Project Estimation Similar to the grammatical parse approach discussed later in SEPA this technique suggests that you simply read the requirements document (however brief it may be), and count the number of nouns and verbs. These counts then drive an estimation approach that is described at this site. Mathematical Limits to Software Estimation A paper by J.P. Lewis that discusses inherent limitation of estimation. Recommended. Limits to Software Estimation An article that considers the argument that complexity makes estimation very difficult and unreliable. Recommended. Estimation Techniques for Risk Management Shows how estimation techniques can be used to support risk management. Estimation Techniques Overview A useful discussion of estimation philosophy and methodology. Decision Tree Analysis (DTA) Tutorial - 1 A useful tutorial on decision tree analysis can be found at this site. Decision Tree Analysis (DTA) Tutorial - 2 An excellent tutorial on DTA can be found at Wikipedia. Recommended. Automated Project Cost Estimation: Using Analogies Information on automated project cost estimation using analogies including a downloadable software tool called ANGEL can be obtained at this site. Estimating Software Earlier and More Accurately This paper considers the use of a basic estimating model utilizing functional sizing (e.g., FP) as one of the key components that allows earlier and more accurate estimates. Bibliography of FP estimation models Extensive print bibliography (380+ refs and 160+ refs) presenting FP estimation models can be found at these sites. Estimation Methods Problem Decomposition for Reuse This paper addresses decomposition by problem frames and views and can be downloaded from this site. The COCOMO II estimation model Detailed information on the COCOMO II model can be obtained at this site. Estimating WebApp Development Useful suggestions for planning and estimating Web engineering projects. Estimation Tools Construx Software Project Estimation Freeware Construx estimation software provides numerous resource-estimation, scheduling, and planning functions. One of its major strengths is the ease with which it can be calibrated for use in your specific environment. SLIM Project Estimation Quantitative Software management has worked in the metrics and estimation arena since the 1970s. Their site present information on their tool set as well as other useful estimation and metrics resources. Software Productivity Center Provides many useful software engineering and project management resources including tools for estimation. EstimatorPal Describes a tool that facilitates a variety of estimation techniques. In addition, has a number of useful links and downloads. Estimation Tools List - 1 A reasonably detailed list of popular estimation tools is provided at this site. Estimation Tools List -2 Another reasonably detailed list of popular estimation tools is provided at this site. Estimation Tools List - 3 A brief list of cost estimation tools. Books Most software project management books contain discussions of project estimation. The Project Management Institute (Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMI, 2000), Wysoki and his colleagues (Effective Project Management, Wiley, 2000), Lewis (Project Planning Scheduling and Control, third edition, McGraw-Hill, 2000), Bennatan (On Time Within Budget, third edition, Wiley, 2000), and Phillips (The Software Project Manager’s Handbook, IEEE Computer Society Press, 1998) provide useful estimation guidelines. Jones (Estimating Software Costs, McGraw-Hill, 1998) has written one of the most comprehensive treatments of the subject published to date. His book contains models and data that are applicable to software estimating in every application domain. Coombs (IT Project Estimation, Cambridge University Press, 2002), Roetzheim and Beasley (Software Project Cost and Schedule Estimating: Best Practices, Prentice-Hall, 1997), Wellman (Software Costing, Prentice-Hall, 1992), and Londeix (Cost Estimation for Software Development, Addison-Wesley, 1987)present many useful models and suggest step-by-step guidelines for generating the best possible estimates. Putnam and Myer’s detailed treatment of software cost estimating (Measures for Excellence, Yourdon Press, 1992) and (Industrial Strength Software: Effective Management Using Measurement, IEEE Computer Society Press, 1997) and Boehm's books on software engineering economics (Software Engineering Economics, Prentice-Hall, 1981) and COCOMO II (Software Cost Estimation in COCOMO II, Prentice-Hall, 2000) describe empirical estimation models. These books provide detailed analysis of data derived from hundreds of software projects. An excellent book by DeMarco (Controlling Software Projects, Yourdon Press, 1982) provides valuable insight into the management, measurement, and estimation of software projects. Lorenz and Kidd (Object-Oriented Software Metrics, Prentice-Hall, 1994) and Cockburn (Surviving Object-Oriented Projects, Addison-Wesley, 1998) consider estimation for object-oriented systems.