Early software defect prediction: A systematic map and review.

•60% of the studies use requirement and/or design phase-based data for prediction.•Machine learning and fuzzy logic methods are the most frequently chosen ones.•Requirement and design phase-based models are successful based on AUC and f-measure.•ESDP is beneficial in project management by supporting early and effective planning.•Maturity of the research area shows there is a need for strong empirical proposals.