Jacob Kaplan-Moss

Tag: timelines

Estimating Software Projects: So you messed up. Now what? June 8th, 2021

You’ve made and committed to a timeline, but your estimate was wrong. The timeline’s going to slip. Now what?

Estimating Software Projects: The art of the SWAG June 2nd, 2021

Sometimes, it’s more important to be able to produce a quick estimate than it is to produce a good one. In those cases, reach for the SWAG: the Simple Wild-Ass Guess. To a large degree making a (good) SWAG is an intuitive process, but I’ve tried to unpack what’s happening in that short moment and give some thoughts about when a SWAG is appropriate, and how to give one.

Estimating Software Projects: My Software Estimation Technique May 25th, 2021

Last time, I explained that, although estimating software project timelines is hard, you should do it anyway. With that background, I want to go into some detail and share the technique I use when I need to develop a project timeline. I don’t believe there’s a single “correct” technique; this is one system that works well for me. However, my system does have one critical characteristic that I believe any effective estimation technique should have: it captures both time and uncertainty.

Estimating Software Projects: Software Estimation Is Hard. Do It Anyway. May 20th, 2021

It’s well established that estimating software projects is hard. This is true, but you should learn how anyway.