Managing code inspection information

Inspection data is difficult to gather and interpret. At AT&T Bell Laboratories, the authors have defined nine key metrics that software project managers can use to plan, monitor, and improve inspections. Graphs of these metrics expose problems early and can help managers evaluate the inspection process itself. The nine metrics are: total noncomment lines of source code inspected in thousands (KLOC); average lines of code inspected; average preparation rate; average inspection rate; average effort per KLOC; average effort per fault detected; average faults detected per KLOC; percentage of reinspections; defect-removal efficiency.<>