In a 2001 article, J.P. Lewis demonstrated using the Kolgomorov-Chaitin-Solomonov noncomputability theorem that there are large limits to software Estimation:
1. Program size and complexity cannot be feasibly estimated a priori.
2. Development time cannot be objectively predicted.
3. Absolute productivity cannot be objectively determined.
In fact, Software Estimation methods have an error margin of 100-400% (see Kemerer, C. 1987: An Empirical Validation of Software Cost Estimation Models").
Software Effort Estimation is harmfull because trusting in anything with a 400% margin of error is risky.
http://scribblethink.org/Work/kcsest.pdf
Algorithmic complexity is not computable, then:
1. Program size and complexity cannot be feasibly estimated a priori. 2. Development time cannot be objectively predicted. 3. Absolute productivity cannot be objectively determined.
In fact, Software Estimation methods have an error margin of 100-400% (see Kemerer, C. 1987: An Empirical Validation of Software Cost Estimation Models").
Software Effort Estimation is harmfull because trusting in anything with a 400% margin of error is risky.