Introducing Simple Function Points (SFP)

October 26, 2021 Highlights New Features

The ICT world is going “agile” and IFPUG is again leading the way in Functional Size Measurement Methods!

After having “defined” the concept of functional size and contributed to the evolution of the international standards, IFPUG is now presenting the next step to the community of measurement practitioners and software developers: a lightweight Functional Measurement Method!

The Simple Function Point method was designed by Roberto Meli in 2010 to be compliant with the ISO14143-1 standard.

Using the ISBSG data in a research project, Meli had the intuition that it would be possible to satisfy the market needs for a lightweight, yet rigorous method to increase the acceptance of FSMM in all communities of software developers. The method was improved by a community of experts in the Simple Function Point Association and then acquired by IFPUG in 2019.

An IFPUG Task Force, including members of the FSSC and NFSSC, spent two years analyzing and experimenting with the method. It completed its task of producing Version 2.1 of the Simple Function Points Manual earlier this year. After a detailed review, the IFPUG board approved the document for distribution to the market.

Download the SFP Counting Practices Manual Release 2.1 from the online store. Available to both members and non-members.

The highlights of the method are:

  • Only two Base Functional Components: Elementary Processes and Logical Files
  • No “primary intent” identification is needed
  • No differentiation between internal and external logical files
  • No internal “complexity” of BFCs
  • No DET, FTR, RET identification
  • A high statistical convertibility with the traditional FPA

The immediate advantages are:

  • It is quick
  • It is applicable earlier in the lifecycle
  • It needs less details
  • It is easy to learn
  • It is a perfect “companion” for story points in agile processes

IFPUG is proud to launch this new product in its portfolio. A follow-up Task Force has been created to bring the method to market and to support, as usual, the ICT community with services and documents.