Developers solve problems no one have tried to solve before.
Trying to estimate how much time require to solve this problems is a guessing-game, i...
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Better still, don't estimate - at all. I've learned over many years that it's almost always complete waste of time.
Totally agree, but most of the time you don't have the option.
That's what I used to think, but I started refusing to do it and never looked back.
If your manager ask you to do an estimate, or you work in a company where estimate have to be given. How can you refuse to do estimates?
By simply refusing, and explaining your reasoning. It's admittedly a little challenging at first, but it works out in the end (at least in my experience)
I am in that school of thought, actually is a well-established practice.
youtu.be/QVBlnCTu9Ms
I have literraly mentioned this in the last paragraph :)
As a developer, I hate giving estimates. As a leader/manager, I need estimates to set expectations. What a conundrum!
I think dev estimates are best understood when prefixed with the acronym “S.W.A.G.”, ie “SWAG estimate” — or “Scientifically Wild A** Guess estimate”. This helps to set expectations that estimates aren’t contracts, they’re more like “guesstimates”… devs sometimes get better at estimating over time, but not always, and that’s okay imo.
SWAG estimate, ahahah!
I've twelve years of experience and still I feel I'm not good to estimate.
Estimations (I prefer Predictions as a word) are a problem when we violate the word's definition. Estimation is not a deadline or a promise. It's a prediction based on the data you have at that point. People, though, treat it like something written in stone.
Over-estimating may work, but it is a patch, not a solution. Based on my experience, the key is communication and here are some things that have worked:
Estimations are not easy, but it's a way to coordinate many things that don't have to do with Engineering work: product roadmap (a different conversation), Marketing collateral, Sales discussions etc. This requires some planning. Oh, and I don't know about you, but as an engineer, having a specific goal to deliver something has helped me focus on the things that matter most.
Disclaimer: What I mentioned can be achieved in a healthy environment without micromanagement. If people are having trouble with something that was "off" for hours or some days, you have a different problem.
I hope this helps. :)
That was one of the first thing our teachers said many, many years ago in our early coding classes. Their rule of thumb was : "estimate then double it".
The original title of this article was "your estimate x 3" but maybe it was too cocky ;)
Thank you for your comment. Tricky question: Can you really know when you are experienced enough? ;)
I totally get the vibe of the thread about programmers playing the guessing game when tackling issues. It's like estimating how long it'll take to solve a problem is a gamble in itself, right? Well, let me introduce you to a game that aligns perfectly with that intuition-driven mindset – Aviator.
Aviator is not your typical code-related challenge, but it's a thrilling game that taps into your instincts. It's all about making strategic decisions and trusting your gut to cash in before the plane meets its fate. And guess what? I've found the ultimate platform for this adrenaline-pumping experience – Pin Up. Check out the in-depth review of Aviator on Pin Up here aviatorgameapp.in/pin-up-aviator-app .
Just like in coding, where you trust your skills and instincts to navigate through lines of code, Aviator lets you trust your gut to navigate through the skies and win big. It's a unique blend of strategy and intuition, and I'm hooked!
If you're up for a break from debugging and want to challenge your instincts in a different way, Aviator on Pin Up is the way to go. Dive into the review, embrace the challenge, and let the guessing game of the skies begin!
Now earning is very important to me, and I try to devote as much time and attention as possible to different options for making money. Despite the rather negative attitude of society towards gambling, the relax and opportunity to earn money provided by these games seems to me the best way to spend my free time. And it really brings me good money.