The Lounge - CodeProject

First Prev Next

Re: How do you estimate time

Mohamad M. Mohamad2-Dec-13 20:08

Mohamad M. Mohamad

2-Dec-13 20:08

Shelby Robertson wrote:
I think its illegal to shoot female software developers

This sound nerdish

My Name in English[^] Translation done By OriginalGriff

Re: How do you estimate time

LarryC112-Dec-13 3:47

LarryC11

2-Dec-13 3:47

There is something called COCOMO that was developed and used almost 30 years ago to estimate time although it may not be applicable exactly to your work. However, its approach of taking into account many various technical (e.g., estimated number of modules or lines of code) and human (e.g., number of developers on the team that are skilled and familiar with the technologies) factors is going in the right direction. But not matter what estimates are produced, management will browbeat the time downward and the development team almost always work like hell to meet the deadline.

Re: How do you estimate time

Yvan Rodrigues2-Dec-13 4:47

Yvan Rodrigues

2-Dec-13 4:47

I start by estimating a number based on experience. I only use factors of ~2. e.g. 1h, 2h, 4h, 8h, 1d, 2d, 4d, 2w, 1m, etc. Anything more specific is just a guess.

Then I quadruple it.
1/4 is to make up for the fact that I'm lying to myself about how long it will take.
1/4 is for when I come across bug X in component Y and waste a day or more on it.
1/4 of that is so I can properly document the project, code, and write a developer's manual.

I am meticulous about keeping track of my time, and lately I have been within 10% of my estimate. Cool | :cool:

Yvan Rodrigues, C.Tech.
Red Cell Innovation Inc.

Re: How do you estimate time

Mohamad M. Mohamad2-Dec-13 20:25

Mohamad M. Mohamad

2-Dec-13 20:25

Yvan Rodrigues wrote:
Then I quadruple it.

1/4 is to make up for the fact that I'm lying to myself about how long it will take.

1/4 is for when I come across bug X in component Y and waste a day or more on it.

1/4 of that is so I can properly document the project, code, and write a developer's manual.

Where did the remaining 1/4 go?

My Name in English[^] Translation done By OriginalGriff

Re: How do you estimate time

Yvan Rodrigues3-Dec-13 3:10

Yvan Rodrigues

3-Dec-13 3:10

The first quarter is my initial estimate.

Yvan Rodrigues, C.Tech.
Red Cell Innovation Inc.

Re: How do you estimate time

RafagaX2-Dec-13 4:52

RafagaX

2-Dec-13 4:52

It doesn't matter how you estimate it, because whatever you think it will take you, it'll take longer...

Or just come up with a guesstimate and multiply it by two.

CEO at:
- Rafaga Systems
- Para Facturas
- Modern Components
for the moment...

Re: How do you estimate time

BrainiacV2-Dec-13 12:02

BrainiacV

2-Dec-13 12:02

I used to get stuck doing estimates, turns out I was fairly good at it, even though I hated every minute of it. They made me estimate the pieces and then brick them into a Microsoft Project file.

I always gave them a tirade about how stupid that was, complaining all the while about what I called "Horizon Effect" (You see the mountain you want to climb in the distance, you bring pitons, ropes, and supplies, but after you get over the horizon you find that deep canyon and the fast running river running through it. Oops) But then I'd do it.

Can't say how I did it. I'll guess that I looked at the complexity and could somehow estimate the volume of code which translates to how long it will take to write it.

But that's experience talking about doing something similar to what I've done before. If it is totally new, all bets are off, that requires research and you don't know how deep that rabbit hole goes.

Psychosis at 10
Film at 11

Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.

Re: How do you estimate time

KP Lee2-Dec-13 12:41

KP Lee

2-Dec-13 12:41

If you think it will take an hour estimate a work-day, if you can do it in a day, estimate 5 work days, a week -> 2 months.

It's amazing how that works out to be pretty accurate. With the hour, you start coding, 10 minutes in, you go "what about..." You hunt down the guy who knows, get the answer. Start coding, someone asks you... By the end of the day snarl at anyone who dares approach you and finish the one hour project to be within estimate.

What do you do

Mohamad M. Mohamad29-Nov-13 22:09

Mohamad M. Mohamad

29-Nov-13 22:09

What do you do in a boring Saturday

My Name in English[^] Translation done By OriginalGriff

Welcome to the Lounge