RE: programmer productivity.

["Gary R. Patterson" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Lots of ways to measure programmer productivity.  A few ideas:

Developers: Lines of code vs. defects in produced code.
Developers: Performance to project timelines vs. defects.
Developers: Performance to task estimate vs. defects.  Really needs
standardized estimates.
Maintenance programmers:  Number of fixes (weighted for complexity) vs.
defects in fixed code.

Subjective measurements, too: Code review, standards compliance, peer and
supervisor performance evaluation.

Of course, you have to measure non-coding tasks, too.  Some of the above
metrics apply.

1) Start tracking defects, and charge them to the responsible individual or
team.  (Have security walk you to the car for the first week or two.)
2) Implement detailed time reporting.  (Watch out for mail that ticks.)
3) Implement code reviews (good idea anyway).  Standard criteria, rotating
responsibility.  Check for standards compliance.  (This way you can share a
little of the heat with your senior staff.)
4) Implement an estimating methodology.  (Big fun.  Nothing like a rousing
afternoon of function-point counting.)
5) Start tracking performance to estimate and performance to timeline.
(Avoid food and beverages that are not prepared in your presence.)

Enjoy.  Might actually even improve productivity and quality, if you can
manage it effectively.

Gary R. Patterson



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
[mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of midrange
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2000 1:29 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: programmer productivity.


I have been ask by accountants to provide them with a way to measure our
programmers productivity.


I know what I think is productive. fast accurate turnaround on projects.

does anyone one else have any comments.

thank you jeff grace

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