Estimating the effort to move to .NET

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Software estimation is difficult at the best of times (which is why I recommend Software Estimation Demystified), but estimating how long an upgrade will take to an environment you’re not familiar with is going to be hard to get right. There’s a utility accompanying the “Upgrading Visual Basic 6.0 Applications to Visual Basic .NET and Visual Basic 2005” guide to help you out.

If you want to have a peek at some sample output based on the old FM Stocks 2000 application then download and install this, then have a look in the ‘Assessment Reports’ folder it creates. The file MainReport.xls contains the upgrade cost estimates. (Warning this tool only works with Excel 2003 – you can download the viewer.)

P.S. As an aside – I really loved the simplicity of FM Stocks, especially when you recall the alternative sample was Duwamish.