1. A method of forecasting characteristics of a software development project comprising: selecting a size metric from an available class of size metrics; entering software characterizing information for the proposed project in response to the selected metric forming a predictive metric indicative of software complexity; entering parametric-type project characterizing information exclusive of project labor hour estimates; producing a forecasting report including at least a labor estimate in response to the previously formed metric and the entered parametric-type information and communicating the forecasting report to the user.