An experimental comparison of software effort estimation methods of ORM based 4GL software applications

Software effort estimation is important in planning and project budgeting for both developers and customers. Although there are many popular effort estimation techniques which have gone through significant developments in the past, software development methodologies and technologies are developing rapidly as a result of the need to improve the existing models. To this end, this paper compares and analyses three popular methods, namely COCOMO II, COSYSMO and Advanced COSTMO-4GL when used with ORM based fourth-generation-language software applications. COSYSMO is found to give better estimation than COSTMO-4GL for both pure 4GL and with ORM components included.