- Origination of Function Points
- The Function Point Counting Process
- Using Function Points: A Simple Example
- The International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG)
- The Future of Function Points
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The International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG)
Critical to the ongoing success of function points as a viable software metric is the work that is being accomplished by the International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG). Since 1986, IFPUG has continued to grow in members and in its importance to the software measurement community. Today IFPUG enjoys a membership of thousands of individual, corporate, educational, and institutional members from more than 30 countries.
IFPUG is a not-for-profit, member-run user group. IFPUG's mission is to be a recognized leader in promoting and encouraging the effective management of application software development and maintenance activities through the use of function point analysis and other software-measurement techniques. For more information, contact IFPUG at www.ifpug.org/, email ifpug@ifpug.org, phone (USA) 609-799-4900, or fax 609-799-7032. IFPUG serves to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas for improved software-measurement techniques and seeks to provide a composite environment that stimulates the personal and professional development of its members. IFPUG typically meets twice a year, once in the spring and then again in the fall. The spring conference is dedicated to training programs and committee meetings. The fall program is devoted to both committee work and training programs, but it also typically includes a two-and-a-half-day user conference and vendor showcase.
Committee work is the core of IFPUG. The two most visible committees are the Counting Practices Committee and the Certification Committee. The Counting Practices Committee is responsible for maintaining the current counting guidelines, Counting Practices Manual. The Certification Committee is responsible for establishing and enforcing the certification guidelines. Other critical committees that generate guidelines for either counting or using function points include New Environments, IT Performance, and Management Reporting. IFPUG also has an Academic Affairs Committee, a Communications and Marketing Committee, a Conference Committee, and an Education Committee to assist the members with academic studies, information dissemination, conferences, and workshops.