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functional-programmingmetric

Function point to kloc ratio as a software metric... the "Name That Tune" metric?


What do you think of using a metric of function point to lines of code as a metric?

It makes me think of the old game show "Name That Tune". "I can name that tune in three notes!" I can write that functionality in 0.1 klocs! Is this useful?

It would certainly seem to promote library usage, but is that what you want?


Solution

  • I think it's a terrible idea. Just as bad as paying programmers by lines of code that they write.

    In general, I prefer concise code over verbose code, but only as long as it still expresses the programmers' intention clearly. Maximizing function points per kloc is going to encourage everyone to write their code as briefly as they possibly can, which goes beyond concise and into cryptic. It will also encourage people to join adjacent lines of code into one line, even if said joining would not otherwise be desirable, just to reduce the number of lines of code. The maximum allowed line length would also become an issue.