It is clear that the weight attached to LOC will decline as management acquires more directly relevant information. The difficult issue is whether there is a zero lower bound.
Imagine buying in software, against a specification. A fully detailed specification with tests both for logical correctness and performance. If there is a choice of vendors, at similar prices, one naturally chooses the package with fewer lines of code. The weight attached to LOC is negative.
The anecdote is interesting because it invites the following speculation. Question: How many extra data points, beyond LOC, does one need to manage a software project? Answer: Enough that the weight attached to LOC, given optimal use of the other information available, is negative.
Imagine buying in software, against a specification. A fully detailed specification with tests both for logical correctness and performance. If there is a choice of vendors, at similar prices, one naturally chooses the package with fewer lines of code. The weight attached to LOC is negative.
The anecdote is interesting because it invites the following speculation. Question: How many extra data points, beyond LOC, does one need to manage a software project? Answer: Enough that the weight attached to LOC, given optimal use of the other information available, is negative.