An estimation model to measure computer systems development based on hardware and software

Abstract

One of the most important activities regarding computer systems project development is planning. A computer system can be understood as a set of documentations, source-codes, software, not necessarily specific hardware, inputs, outputs, and data processing. To develop computer systems, at least two main features must be considered. The first one is verifying whether these systems need to use any specific hardware, in order to be considered not just a general-purpose hardware of a conventional computer. The second feature is that these systems must often work in a time fashion mainly characterized as real-time systems. In this case, it is required to respond to events on time. However, the time order of occurrence of such events is not always predictable. If a computer system needs to run more than one task on a hardware processor responding to time criteria, it may require the use of a Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS). Conversely, if a computer system has some software embedded in hardware to solve a specific real-time problem, then it may be classified as a real-time embedded system. Those examples are just some factors influencing the development of real-time embedded system, impacting on budget, time, and human resources estimation. Therefore, it is necessary to use a model to estimate real-time embedded systems, in order to optimize existing estimation practices and to provide its implementation in organizations not using such practices yet. Such a model was not found in the literature by the authors of this academic work. For this reason, an estimation model was developed, described, detailed, and presented on this paper. The designed model involves rules for requirements elicitation and classification of both requirements and hardware factors developed in this work. Its main focus is to apply an estimation model in a case study named Pigeon Project. The purpose is to provide more accurate estimates for the development of realtime embedded systems, by improving cost and time of its delivery. This work also intends to report some estimation results to support project managers in their decision making processes throughout a project development life cycle.