IfSQ

The IfSQ Standards

IfSQ has produced an open, coherent and transparent set of standards for assessing computer program source code.

These standards are divided into three levels according to the expertise required and the time it takes to perform an assessment:

• IfSQ Level-1: An Entry-Level Standard for Computer Program Source Code, takes any I.T. Professional about 1 minute per page of source code, and involves the following defect categories and indicators:
  • WIP-1—Vague "To Do", WIP-2—Disabled Code, WIP-3—Empty Statement Block
  • SP-1—Routine Too Long, SP-2—Nesting Too Deep
  • SPM-1—Magic Numbers
• IfSQ Level-2: A Foundation-Level Standard for Computer Program Source Code, takes one programmer about 3 minutes per page of source code, and involves the following defect categories and indicators:
  • WIP-1—Vague "To Do", WIP-2—Disabled Code, WIP-3—Empty Statement Block
  • SP-1—Routine Too Long, SP-2—Nesting Too Deep, SP-3—Routine Too Complex
  • SPM-1—Magic Numbers, SPM-2—Magic Strings, SPM-3—Copy/Paste Programming
  • DP-1—Parameter Not Checked, DP-2—Status Ignored After Call, DP-3—Unexpected State Not Trapped
  • CfC-NC—Not Complete, CfC-WR—Wrong Result, CfC-HtM—Hard to Maintain
• IfSQ Level-3: Industry Best Practice for Computer Program Source Code, is not yet complete. Once completed, it will take two programmers about 5 minutes per page of source code, and involves the following defect categories and indicators:
  • WIP-1—Vague "To Do", WIP-2—Disabled Code, WIP-3—Empty Statement Block
  • SP-1—Routine Too Long, SP-2—Nesting Too Deep, SP-3—Routine Too Complex, SP-4—Module Not Cohesive, SP-5—Poor Choice of Name
  • SPM-1—Magic Numbers, SPM-2—Magic Strings, SPM-3—Copy/Paste Programming
  • DP-1—Parameter Not Checked, DP-2—Status Ignored After Call, DP-3—Unexpected State Not Trapped, DP-4—Unused Variables, DP-5—Information Exposed
  • CfC-NC—Not Complete, CfC-WR—Wrong Result, CfC-HtM—Hard to Maintain