Software size, the amount of functionality in a given software release, is arguably the most important of the five core metrics of software estimation. There is little point in tracking effort, duration, productivity and quality if you are unable to quantify what you are building.

Yet, despite its critical importance, software sizing is often a difficult concept for many to understand and use properly in the estimation process. Sometimes a picture is better than 1,000 words. With that ideal of visual simplicity in mind, we developed an infographic that helps explain:

• Why we care about size
• Challenges in sizing
• When size should be measured during the software development life cycle (SDLC) to narrow the cone of uncertainty
• The difference between functional and technical size
• The most popular sizing methods and when to use them

When combined with our workshop in software sizing, this infographic is a useful visual reference that puts you on the fast track to more successful estimation.