Software Effort Prediction Using Ensemble Learning Methods

Abstract

Software Cost Estimation (SCE) is an essential requirement in producing software these days. Genuine accurate estimation requires cost-and-efforts factors in delivering software by utilizing algorithmic or Ensemble Learning Methods (ELMs). Effort is estimated in terms of individual months and length. Overestimation as well as underestimation of efforts can adversely affect software development. Hence, it is the responsibility of software development managers to estimate the cost using the best possible techniques. The predominant cost for any product is the expense of figuring effort. Subsequently, effort estimation is exceptionally pivotal and there is a constant need to improve its accuracy. Fortunately, several efforts estimation models are available; however, it is difficult to determine which model is more accurate on what dataset. Hence, we use ensemble learning bagging with base learner Linear regression, SMOReg, MLP, random forest, REPTree, and M5Rule. We also implemented the feature selection algorithm to examine the effect of feature selection algorithm BestFit and Genetic Algorithm. The dataset is based on 499 projects known as China. The results show that the Mean Magnitude Relative error of Bagging M5 rule with Genetic Algorithm as Feature Selection is 10%, which makes it better than other algorithms.