Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-92-TR-020Abstract
This report presents guidelines for defining, recording, and reporting two frequently used measures of software size: physical source lines and logical source statements. We propose a general framework for constructing size definitions and use it to derive operational methods for reducing misunderstandings in measurement results. We show how the methods can be applied to address the information needs of different users while maintaining a common definition of software size.
Cite This SEI Report
Park, R. (1992, September 1). Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-92-TR-020). Retrieved July 13, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/software-size-measurement-a-framework-for-counting-source-statements/.
@techreport{park_1992,
author={Park, Robert},
title={Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements},
month={Sep},
year={1992},
number={{CMU/SEI-92-TR-020},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/software-size-measurement-a-framework-for-counting-source-statements/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Jul-13}
}
Park, Robert. "Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements." (CMU/SEI-92-TR-020). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, September 1, 1992. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/software-size-measurement-a-framework-for-counting-source-statements/.
R. Park, "Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-92-TR-020, 1-Sep-1992 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/software-size-measurement-a-framework-for-counting-source-statements/. [Accessed: 13-Jul-2026].
Park, Robert. "Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-92-TR-020). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Sep. 1992. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/software-size-measurement-a-framework-for-counting-source-statements/. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.
Park, Robert. Software Size Measurement: A Framework for Counting Source Statements. CMU/SEI-92-TR-020. Software Engineering Institute. 1992. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/software-size-measurement-a-framework-for-counting-source-statements/