AutoCosmic: COSMIC Automated Estimation and Management Tool

Software size estimation may be costly due to the time spent in estimation, even using referenced method, such as, Functional Size Measurement methods. This research objective is to reduce estimation cost in the very early stage of software development life cycle based on user stories and COSMIC method. We propose automated size estimation in order to reduce estimation cost and increase the accuracy. We conducted a quasi-experiment where the control group is composed of certified professionals and the experimental group is actually the proposed automated estimation tool. Results show promising evidence of success in terms of estimation precision. Based on these preliminary results we conclude that user story size automation is valuable and may be more objective and precise that manual estimation.