3 ms·
One thing my Dad always told me about software estimates: "Take the estimate, double it, and increase the time unit by one. So if they tell you it's a couple of
by philbarr 13y ago
One thing my Dad always told me about software estimates: "Take the estimate, double it, and increase the time unit by one. So if they tell you it's a couple of days effort, that's really four weeks..."
- dugmartin 13y agoI came here to say this. I think there is more than a kernel of truth in it - it helps you remember that effort almost always never equals duration.
- yannis 13y agoUse the pi rule. Multiply the estimated duration by pi. Works for many other things too, besides software.
- arethuza 13y agoMultiplying by a value between 3 to 4 seems pretty common - the explanation I've heard being: - One to work out what you should be building ("I have to tel you what I want? I might as well build it myself") - One to build it - One to get in working in the required way (allowing for "That may be what I asked for, but it's not what I want") And a bit more for contingency... NB The above approach is based on an assumption that the real difficulties come from working out what to build - technical risks are generally easier to address (prototypes etc.).