Funktiopisteanalyysiä

Funktiopisteanalyysiä, often translated as Function Point Analysis (FPA), is a software metric used to measure the size of software from the perspective of the functionality delivered to the user. It is an indirect measure, meaning it doesn't directly count lines of code or development time, but rather assesses the complexity and volume of the software's features. The primary goal of FPA is to provide a standardized and objective way to quantify software size, which can then be used for various purposes such as estimating project effort, predicting costs, and benchmarking productivity.

The analysis is based on identifying and quantifying five fundamental software components: inputs, outputs, inquiries, internal logical files, and external interface files. Each of these components is assigned a complexity weighting based on predefined criteria. The sum of these weighted components, adjusted by a set of general system characteristics (GSCs) that account for the overall system complexity, results in the final function point count. These GSCs include factors like data complexity, user interface sophistication, and performance requirements.

FPA has been widely adopted in the software industry for its ability to provide a consistent measure of software size that is independent of the programming language or development methodology used. This independence makes it a valuable tool for comparing projects and assessing team performance across different technological environments. While it requires a certain level of expertise to perform accurately, its benefits in project planning and management are significant, contributing to more realistic estimates and better control over software development efforts.