Function Point Counting Practices Manual

Foreword
By Capers Jones, Chief Scientist
Artemis Management Systems
January 1999
Function points are the leading metric of the software world. Although function
points originated as a sizing mechanism for software projects, the power and utility of
function points have expanded into new uses far beyond that basic purpose. As the
twenty-first century approaches, function points are now being applied to all of these
tasks:
· Benchmark studies
· Development cost estimating
· Litigation involving software contracts
· Litigation involving software taxation
· Maintenance cost estimating
· Outsource contracts
· Process improvement analysis
· Quality estimating
· Quality measurements
· Sizing all software deliverables (documents, source code, test materials)
· Year 2000 software cost estimating
As usage of function point metrics expands throughout the software world, more and
more companies and government agencies are starting function point programs. This
implies that the need for certified function point analysts is rising even faster than the
demand for other software professionals. Certification would not be possible without
a complete and stable set of counting rules for function point analysis