6 ms·

How to predict: 1) Say what but don't say when. 2) Say when but don't say what. Never, ever, ever bet tempted to say something specific will happen in a boun

by harry8 7y ago

How to predict: 1) Say what but don't say when. 2) Say when but don't say what. Never, ever, ever bet tempted to say something specific will happen in a bounded time range. Flying cars are on the way! That disease you hate, a cure is coming! Next year will be a big year for other breakthroughs not mentioned here.

mayukh 7y ago
Super. I'm going to steal this.
p1necone 7y ago
This is the golden rule of software dev too - promise features or promise a release date, but never both.
- avip 7y ago
  Be conservative in what will be delivered, and liberal with when it'll be delivered.
  - rightbyte 7y ago
    Does 'a liberal' overestimate or underestimate the time needed here?
    - amyassin 7y ago
      I think the liberty meant here is not estimating anything :)
- c0nducktr 7y ago
  Be a bullshit artist?
  - p1necone 7y ago
    Not making promises you can't keep is being a bullshit artist?
    - Dylan16807 7y ago
      Talking extensively about how wonderful your product will be without ever making any promises whatsoever is the work of a bullshit artist. If you can't keep promises, and don't want to bullshit, then talk more about what the product already does.
      - themoat 7y ago
        I can have this major feature done for you, but I'm not sure if it can be done in 2 months, so I say 3 to be conservative. OR I can have many small sub-features that relate to this major feature done in 2 months, but I might know exactly which features make the cut in those 2 months. Seems congruous to me
        Dylan16807 7y ago
        Both of those are promising specific things with a specific timeframe.
- misterman0 7y ago
  "promise features or promise a release date, but never both" I agree and it's such a golden rule that no one follows or cares about even the slightest. Features and deadlines are to SE like velocities and positions are to QM. This idea more thoroughly described here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21212087 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21212087
byw 7y ago
Elon Musk could use this advice. But then again he probably uses deadlines as both carrots and whips. Also seems makes good PR and gets people excited, even when exaggeration is accounted for.

by harry8 7y ago

mayukh 7y ago

Super. I'm going to steal this.

p1necone 7y ago

This is the golden rule of software dev too - promise features or promise a release date, but never both.

avip 7y ago
Be conservative in what will be delivered, and liberal with when it'll be delivered.
- rightbyte 7y ago
  Does 'a liberal' overestimate or underestimate the time needed here?
  - amyassin 7y ago
    I think the liberty meant here is not estimating anything :)
c0nducktr 7y ago
Be a bullshit artist?
- p1necone 7y ago
  Not making promises you can't keep is being a bullshit artist?
  - Dylan16807 7y ago
    Talking extensively about how wonderful your product will be without ever making any promises whatsoever is the work of a bullshit artist. If you can't keep promises, and don't want to bullshit, then talk more about what the product already does.
    - themoat 7y ago
      I can have this major feature done for you, but I'm not sure if it can be done in 2 months, so I say 3 to be conservative. OR I can have many small sub-features that relate to this major feature done in 2 months, but I might know exactly which features make the cut in those 2 months. Seems congruous to me
      - Dylan16807 7y ago
        Both of those are promising specific things with a specific timeframe.
misterman0 7y ago
"promise features or promise a release date, but never both" I agree and it's such a golden rule that no one follows or cares about even the slightest. Features and deadlines are to SE like velocities and positions are to QM. This idea more thoroughly described here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21212087 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21212087

byw 7y ago

Elon Musk could use this advice. But then again he probably uses deadlines as both carrots and whips. Also seems makes good PR and gets people excited, even when exaggeration is accounted for.