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Time Estimation

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 20:04

I need help.

I keep underestimating the time required to do a programming task at work.  can anyone give me tips on how to better my time estimation?

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 20:14

In before Hofstadter's law.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 20:15

according to wikipedia, Hofstandter's law is:

"It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law."

OH SHI- INFINITE LOOP

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 20:37

>>3
...
You don't understand what an infinite loop is, do you? Refer to >>3 to see what I mean

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 20:38

im afraid YOU dont understand what an infinite loop is.  Refer to >>5 to see what i mean.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 22:08

>>5
im afraid YOU don't understand you have been trolled.
congrats :)

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 22:20

>>1
Use higher numbers.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-12 23:02

Stop assuming you're competent. Stop worrying about them thinking you're not competent, and therefore saying it'll take less time.
The resulting difference in actual time and bullshit time will make you look even less competent than you are.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 0:36

Just blame it on things that are out of your control like any other shitty programmer who doesn't have any balls would do.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 1:55

Estimate four times as long as it will actually take.  How else will you maintain your reputation as a miracle worker?

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 3:08

Rules of thumb. 

Think how long it feels, double it and use the next unit up.  So if it's something that ought to be a half-day task, say one week -- and you'll probably be right.

Software is 90% complete for 90% of the elapsed development time.

Getting a piece of work 95% complete takes 95% of the estimated time.  Finishing it takes the other 95%.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 3:14

>>11
Getting a piece of work 95% complete takes 95% of the estimated time.  Finishing it takes the other 95%.
Back to /contradiction/ please.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 3:16

>>12
thatisthejoke.jpg

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 3:47

>>13
The joke is that he has made an inconsistent sentence? I don't see anything funny here except perhaps his lack of a formal education.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 3:50

>>14
Hey screw you pal, I was bullied in high school so I was forced to leave early

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 4:18

Stop visiting /prog/.
Period.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 5:20

Getting 95% percent of the task complete takes 95% percent of the time. The other 95% of the task takes the other 95% of the time to complete.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 5:41

95% percent
back to /b/ please

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 9:02

>>8
>>11
thanks.  I hope to make use of this advice soon.

unless i get fired.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 9:25

soon
There you go again.  Have you learned nothing?

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-13 10:12

>>20
*grabs dick*

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 9:51

>>11
>Think how long it feels, double it and use the next unit up.  So if it's something that ought to be a half-day task, say one week -- and you'll probably be right.

so if something will take 1 month, i say 2 years?

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 10:22

>>22
No, if the unit is greater than a week than you just double it.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 10:54

function timeEstimate(d){
  var daysInAMonth = 30;
  d *= 2;
  if(d < 7){
    d *= daysInAMonth
  }
  return d;
}

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 11:34

>>24
Actually that doesn't take into account that there are other units involved. eg and estimate of "a sec" should return 2 minutes, half an hour should be 1 day, etc.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 11:47

>>25
you do it.  i declare >>24 open source under the GNU license.

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 11:56

>>24
>>26
get that non-FREE piece of code out of /prog/

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-14 14:39

>>27
how?

Name: Anonymous 2009-04-16 10:40

sage

Name: Anonymous 2011-02-03 1:09

Name: Anonymous 2011-02-04 19:03

Name: Anonymous 2011-02-18 14:08

<-- check 'em dubz

Name: Anonymous 2013-01-18 23:56

/prog/ will be spammed continuously until further notice. we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Don't change these.
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