Redressing grievances with the treatment of dimensionless quantities in SI

Flater, David W.

doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2017.05.043

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The type system of dimensionless units that was constructed according to the interpretation of Ref. [3] is shown in Figure 1. The only other unit referenced was the second, as defned in the International System of Units (SI) [4].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Software science' revisited: rationalizing Halstead's system using dimensionless units.

Flater¹

2018

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The set of software metrics introduced by Maurice H. Halstead in the 1970s has seen much scrutiny and not infrequent criticism. This article takes a fresh look at these metrics using quantity calculus (the algebra of units) and a new approach to dimensionless units. In this way, it is possible to assign units to the major Halstead metrics in a manner that is logically consistent. However, Halstead's repurposing of counts of software attributes as counts of unobservable mental events leads to a less plausible, more confusing set of metrics for coding eort than for software attributes. Recently, this computer scientist revisited Halstead's metrics with the goal of identifying the dimensions or units of each defned quantity using the interpretation of dimensionless units appearing in Ref. [3]. The exercise proved to be unexpectedly fruitful. Once counting units have been assigned to the input quantities, the units of the derived quantities are unambiguously determined. The result could be described as a

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the model of Ref. [3], the unit of such a sum is a generalization of the units of its input quantities. Shen et al, A2, and Zuse [10,11,17] each used the name "token" for the superordinate concept.…”

Section: Vocabulary Size and Program Lengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Software science' revisited: rationalizing Halstead's system using dimensionless units.

Flater¹

2018

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“…In practice, we cannot afford the mistake of equating bits to bytes or neutrons to pixels, so we often indicate units of counting. Reconciling this practice with SI guidance on the use of unit symbols and names remains a topic of ongoing discussion [17][18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Units In Metrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

What does the pixel measure?

Flater

2023

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“…To avoid contributing to this problem, NISTIR 8289 follows a model that extends the interpretation of dimensionless quantities by introducing “extended units” [ 6 ]. In the simplest case, this means that counts identify the type of entity or event counted [ 7 ].…”

Section: Units and Traceabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A system of quantities from software metrology

Flater

2021

Measurement

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International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 80000, the International System of Quantities, collects and organizes the most important physical quantities into a coherent system of quantities whose foundation for measurements is the International System of Units (SI). This short communication outlines a report that, in a similar fashion, collects and organizes the most important quantities used in measurements performed on software artifacts, focusing on software as a product rather than its development process.

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Redressing grievances with the treatment of dimensionless quantities in SI

Cited by 14 publications

References 17 publications

Software science' revisited: rationalizing Halstead's system using dimensionless units.

Software science' revisited: rationalizing Halstead's system using dimensionless units.

What does the pixel measure?

A system of quantities from software metrology

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