Earning Function Points in Software Projects

Measuring the progress of a software project requires a metric of the value the project creates. Progress implies a plan against which to measure. The concept of earned value provides a clear metric of project progress relative to a plan. For this purpose, the usual cost metrics for earned value are less interesting in a software project than other measures of value. In particular, function points provide a measure of value that earned value metrics can easily use to compare what you've created to what you plan to create.