Early estimation of software quality using in-process testing metrics

Abstract

In industrial practice, information on post-release field quality of a product tends to become available too late in the software development process to affordably guide corrective actions. An important step towards remediation of this problem of late information lies in the ability to provide an early estimation of software post-release field quality. This paper presents the use of a suite of in-process metrics that leverages the software testing effort to provide (1) an estimation of potential software field quality in early software development phases, and (2) the identification of low quality software programs. A controlled case study conducted at North Carolina State University provides initial indication that our approach is effective for making an early assessment of post-release field quality.