The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - Factors required for deciding time lines

Factors required for deciding time lines

Can you give me an idea that which are the factors required for deciding time lines for the perticular module.

following are some of like

- Type of module
- type of skill available

add some more dimensions... Your feedback required..

HBJ
Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Best estimating technique I ever heard was to ask the programmer, then double the number and go up one in units. If the programmer says 2 days, plan on 4 weeks. If he says 3 weeks, plan on 6 months, etc. It really works.

Anony Coward
Tuesday, May 11, 2004

That depends on the programmer, and probably the relationship with their manager.

Our programmer code corresponds roughly to:
a few hours - instantly to a few hours
a day - an hour to a day
a week - a couple of hours to a few days
two weeks - about a week
6 months - complicated/not sure how long/will take a couple of weeks if I get around to it but it doesn't sound like fun so I'm hoping the long time frame will discourage manager from making this a priority.
a year - not in your lifetime, buddy :)

Okay, so there is a bit of joking that goes on at the office, but if your programmer habitually overestimate the amount of time it takes to do something, doubling the estimate and increasing the unit by one isn't going to be that useful.

Regular poster
Tuesday, May 11, 2004