3 Key Metrics to Measure Developer Productivity

Measuring developer productivity is a tough puzzle to solve. With so many variables to consider, it’s hard to identify a workable metric. While creating a measurement system for developers is no easy feat, it’s also not impossible. The task becomes more approachable when managers consider these three metrics:

1. Value of Code: Identifying the value of code involves more than just counting the number of lines. Static Object, a code management software, uses a “Line Impact” algorithm to asses each line of code and assign a value to it. This allows the software to quantify the impact on the code base and measure changes over time. Line Impact attempts to measure code in the same way a manager would — by considering many variables. While this is more complex, it also leads to a more accurate picture of how effectively individual programmers and teams are performing.
2. Speed: Productivity can’t be measured by code value alone. On most teams, it’s also critical to get work done quickly. That’s where speed comes in. Static Object includes a velocity measurement that allows managers to see each developer’s average Line Impact per day and observe how contributions trend over time. While speed is a great indicator of productivity, it’s not a complete view. It should be weighed carefully with the value of the work being done as well as any refactoring that happens later.
3. Tech Debt: Perhaps the most elusive measurement, technical debt can be described as extra development work that arises when code is implemented. A quick solution today might solve an immediate problem, but create other problems that need to be solved in the future. Code duplication and complexity, lack of documentation, and programming rule violations are all factors that contribute to tech debt.There is no single formula to to calculate tech debt. However, identifying the debt sources and estimating the amount of added development time is a good place to start. As Static Object continues to add new features and integrations, the ability to measure tech debt is becoming a reality. The tool will identify where time is spent refactoring and revising code after a project is considered “done”. The work done in this time is roughly equivalent to tech debt.

There are countless ways to measure software developers. These factors range from personality and culture fit to coding speed and years of experience. When measuring developer’s productivity, every organization has a different set of variables. Using the right tools, managers can get better insight into the work being done and measure performance more objectively.

Interested in exploring how Static Object could help your organization? Try a 30-day free trial today!