What are Software Engineering metrics? Crafting the perfect Software Engineering metrics can feel overwhelming, particularly when you're juggling daily responsibilities. That's why we've put together a collection of examples to spark your inspiration.
Copy these examples into your preferred app, or you can also use Tability to keep yourself accountable.
Find Software Engineering metrics with AI While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI metrics generator below to generate your own strategies.
Examples of Software Engineering metrics and KPIs 1. Defect Density Defect density measures the number of defects confirmed in the software during a specific period of development divided by the size of the software.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 defect per 1,000 lines of code
Ideas to improve this metric Implement peer code reviews Conduct regular testing phases Adopt test-driven development Use static code analysis tools Enhance developer training programmes 2. Code Coverage Code coverage is the percentage of your code which is tested by automated tests.
What good looks like for this metric: 80% - 90%
Ideas to improve this metric Review untested code sections Invest in automated testing tools Aim for high test case quality Integrate continuous integration practices Regularly refactor and simplify code 3. Cycle Time Cycle time measures the time from when work begins on a feature until it's released to production.
What good looks like for this metric: 1 - 5 days
Ideas to improve this metric Streamline build processes Improve collaboration tools Enhance team communication rituals Limit work in progress (WIP) Automate repetitive tasks 4. Technical Debt Technical debt represents the implied cost of future rework caused by choosing an easy solution now instead of a better approach.
What good looks like for this metric: Under 5% of total project cost
Ideas to improve this metric Regularly refactor existing code Set priority levels for debt reduction Maintain comprehensive documentation Conduct technical debt assessments Encourage practices to avoid accumulating debt 5. Customer Satisfaction Customer satisfaction measures the level of contentment clients feel with the software, often gauged through surveys.
What good looks like for this metric: Above 80% satisfaction rate
Ideas to improve this metric Gather feedback through surveys Implement a user-centric design approach Enhance customer support services Ensure frequent updates and improvements Analyse and respond to customer complaints
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1. Code Quality Measures the standards of the code written by the developer using metrics like cyclomatic complexity, code churn, and code maintainability index
What good looks like for this metric: Maintainability index above 70
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular code reviews Utilise static code analysis tools Adopt coding standards and guidelines Refactor code regularly to reduce complexity Invest in continuous learning and training 2. Deployment Frequency Evaluates the frequency at which a developer releases code changes to production
What good looks like for this metric: Multiple releases per week
Ideas to improve this metric Automate deployment processes Use continuous integration and delivery pipelines Schedule regular release sessions Encourage modular code development Enhance collaboration with DevOps teams 3. Lead Time for Changes Measures the time taken from code commit to deployment in production, reflecting efficiency in development and delivery
What good looks like for this metric: Less than one day
Ideas to improve this metric Streamline the code review process Optimise testing procedures Improve communication across teams Automate build and testing workflows Implement parallel development tracks 4. Change Failure Rate Represents the proportion of deployments that result in a failure requiring a rollback or hotfix
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 15%
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough testing before deployment Decrease batch size of code changes Conduct post-implementation reviews Improve error monitoring and logging Enhance rollback procedures 5. System Downtime Assesses the total time that applications are non-operational due to code changes or failures attributed to backend systems
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 0.1% downtime
Ideas to improve this metric Invest in high availability infrastructure Enhance real-time monitoring systems Regularly test system resilience Implement effective incident response plans Improve software redundancy mechanisms
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Tracking your Software Engineering metrics Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.
Having a good strategy is only half the effort. You'll increase significantly your chances of success if you commit to a weekly check-in process .
A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.
More metrics recently published We have more examples to help you below.
Planning resources OKRs are a great way to translate strategies into measurable goals. Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the OKR framework:
Tability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparency
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