Software Time estimation

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I want to know what are the preferred methods commonly used to estimate the development time of a software?

Posted 12-Apr-11 22:59pm

Wild-Programmer

Updated 12-Apr-11 23:01pm

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Sandeep Mewara 13-Apr-11 5:15am

Is that a quick question? Expecting a quick answer to it?

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:20am

No No, never :) I have all the time in the world for it. Actually this is one of the most sought interview question and I want a an impeccable answer.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 5:20am

Why answering? I know a good link. Read it -- quite interesting.
--SA

3 solutions

Solution 3

I estimate what I think it's going to take ME to complete the task, add vacation, sick time, and all company holidays, and then double that number. I find that it's pretty accurate.

Posted 12-Apr-11 23:51pm

#realJSOP

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Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:55am

LOL :D No tools required.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 6:14am

I'm sure it works better then tools. My 5. Tools are only good with non-creative work. Please see my discussion with Amit.
--SA

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-12T23:17:00

Solution 1

Please read this — very useful: "Why Can't Developers Estimate Time?".

Here:
http://blog.patchspace.co.uk/why-cant-developers-estimate-time[^]

—SA

Posted 12-Apr-11 23:17pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:20am

Thank you SA :) my +5

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 5:24am

You're welcome.
Subscribe to CodeProject news -- it's from the distribution list.
However, I cannot see many interesting articles, but sometime you can come across a real gem, or just something useful or important.
--SA

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:25am

Sure thanks. I know people use tools for estimating cost and time. I want to learn them.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 5:32am

I would not these tools too seriously. Here is why: if someone say that I can write such tool, I would say it estimates so non-creative kind of work so I would more successfully can right another tool, to automate this work, which would be more easy and useful.
Do you understand the idea?
--SA

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:36am

Yes, that is true. These things cannot be automated as such.

Still when asked by interviewer that "How you estimate a project development time?", what should I answer to satisfy his query?

Pong D. Panda 13-Apr-11 5:58am

You can say something like "I can estimate development timeline just like running. Effective project estimation is not something you can teach, it is something you learn through experience. Taking into consideration the availability of the resources, the possibility of the solution, the limitation of technology and the skill of the implementor."

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 6:04am

Good answer :) I wish I could vote your comment.

Dylan Morley 13-Apr-11 5:57am

"Rule of thumb: take the estimates of a developer, double it and add a bit"

Haha, yes definitely - I do this with any work I'm quoting for. Always over estimate, then you look great when you finish ahead of estimate and under budget!

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:59am

You are going to get me killed and thrashed by my client and managers :D

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 6:12am

But I would say -- just the opposite. The more realistic information you have, the safer.
Unfortunately, the problem is social. The estimates are often driven by expectations, not real situation. As a result, wishfully thinking people get more credit at first and fail later, at the expense of realistically thinking ones... A huge problem!
--SA

Tarun.K.S 13-Apr-11 6:26am

Wow the blog has been viewed more than 1,27,000 times! Must be interesting! 5d!

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 6:34am

Thank you.
Interesting? Very problematic matter. But people here have fun. A chance to relax on free talking...
--SA

Tarun.K.S · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-12T23:41:00

Solution 2

Hey Amit!
here is another "impeccable" answer! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_estimation_in_software_engineering[^]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_effort_estimation[^]

Check out this CP article, got a mixed response though!
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/architecture/estimate-manhour-software.aspx[^]

http://www.bright-green.com/docs/howto_estimate.html[^]

Hope it was helpful! :)

Posted 12-Apr-11 23:41pm

Tarun.K.S

Comments

Wild-Programmer 13-Apr-11 5:42am

Thank you so much Tarun for the links :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 6:13am

Great, my 5.
--SA

Tarun.K.S 13-Apr-11 6:15am

Thanks for helping me cross the 12,000 mark! :D

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 6:25am

For a good post, who would spare a mark? :-)
--SA

Tarun.K.S 13-Apr-11 6:48am

:D