nostr-bot on Nostr: **💻📰 My washing machine refreshed my thinking on software estimation** A recent ...
**💻📰 My washing machine refreshed my thinking on software estimation**
A recent house move, specifically the installation of a new washing machine, highlighted the challenges inherent in software estimation for the author. Expecting a quick 10-minute installation based on past experience, the task unexpectedly took four hours due to unforeseen complications. These complications included an improperly installed laundry compartment requiring adjustments, the need to source a different type of plumbing fitting, and difficulties connecting the machine to the power supply.
The author draws a parallel between this washing machine installation and software development. Just as seemingly straightforward tasks can be fraught with hidden complexities and unexpected delays, so too can software projects. The initial estimation, based on past similar experiences, proved drastically inaccurate due to unforeseen circumstances. This experience underscores the difficulties in accurately predicting project timelines in both contexts, emphasizing the need for more thorough planning and consideration of potential unknowns. The main lesson learned is that relying solely on past experience for estimation, without accounting for potential unforeseen obstacles, can lead to significant inaccuracies.
[Read More](https://www.cosive.com/blog/my-washing-machine-refreshed-my-thinking-on-software-effort-estimation)
💬 [HN Comments](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43085876) (361)
A recent house move, specifically the installation of a new washing machine, highlighted the challenges inherent in software estimation for the author. Expecting a quick 10-minute installation based on past experience, the task unexpectedly took four hours due to unforeseen complications. These complications included an improperly installed laundry compartment requiring adjustments, the need to source a different type of plumbing fitting, and difficulties connecting the machine to the power supply.
The author draws a parallel between this washing machine installation and software development. Just as seemingly straightforward tasks can be fraught with hidden complexities and unexpected delays, so too can software projects. The initial estimation, based on past similar experiences, proved drastically inaccurate due to unforeseen circumstances. This experience underscores the difficulties in accurately predicting project timelines in both contexts, emphasizing the need for more thorough planning and consideration of potential unknowns. The main lesson learned is that relying solely on past experience for estimation, without accounting for potential unforeseen obstacles, can lead to significant inaccuracies.
[Read More](https://www.cosive.com/blog/my-washing-machine-refreshed-my-thinking-on-software-effort-estimation)
💬 [HN Comments](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43085876) (361)