3 ms·

Here’s a concrete example. A customer of mine wants to process some data, this processing of data is needed for their fizzbuzz widget they are developing and th

Here’s a concrete example. A customer of mine wants to process some data, this processing of data is needed for their fizzbuzz widget they are developing and they need the data before they launch the widget. They want to know how long it will take, at what cost, because I’m bidding against others who also want to do the job. In order for me to continue to operate as a business (and pay staff), I need to sell, in order to sell, I need to give an estimate to the client on how much effort it will be so that they can plan accordingly or select a different vendor. This is an engineering task. Estimate the steps and time it will take. Deliver it. Plain and simple. You don’t know what the data looks like so it’s going to be new. You don’t have a framework. You have some semblance of a schema but it’s written by business folks.

re-thc 4y ago
Like all the other commenters have said you're not really asking for an "estimate". A fixed cost project does NOT have estimates. Estimate occur when you do time and materials i.e. you get charged per hour and it can always get extended. There's competition and you roughly know where the bid will land (assuming you're already experienced) and likely talking to each other. Instead of giving a real estimate anyone knows you pad any real estimate 3x and then drag it out if you're under time. I once tried to give a real estimate, finish it under time and got told for it because then we can't bill the client (time based). Again, no it's not an estimate. It's called I have $x and y time and want to do <z>, how many corners can I cut whilst the client won't notice?