Rant: Software Scheduling

** Warning **
You are about to read a Bobby rant. Viewer discretion is advised.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

Why is it that everyone I’m around lately think that software development takes no time? Software development is just like any other task in the world in the fact that it takes time. Why is it that everyone who requested software task of me seems to want it the next day? Why do people think that software development is quick and easy? Consider the project triangle when making your request.

I understand there are deadlines and schedules to meet but you have to consider the amount of work that needs to be done and then schedule. You cannot, no matter how much you need it, schedule the work without considering the amount of work. It usually goes like this. I have a customer that wants to “BLAH”, can we do this? My response usually is yes because what can software not do? Almost always the “BLAH” can be done but the better questions is how long will it take. Well this is the frustrating part because this is the part that is ignored. Once the person gets the “oh it can be done” then I get told we need this by “X” date. This is where I want to SCREEEEEEAM.

How about a follow up question of “how long will this take?”. I have to admit that sometimes I do get this question but then I get the ok that’s good but we need it by “X” date so can we do that. This is where I try to suggest we cut features to try and find a medium ground but most of the time this fails due to the fact that they are requirements. The definition of a requirement is that it's required but sometimes you can get some removed to shorted the schedule.

My point is simple. When asking your software developers about any software task consider that the task will take some time. Tell them your requirements then ask for a effort estimate. When they tell you the schedule believe them. If you don’t then you cannot complain about the quality of the software you receive.