People often ask me about ETAs. When will the feature they’re waiting for ship? If you’re a software developer, they probably ask you too.
I totally get it! Though I write an app, I’m mostly a user of apps, and I too want to know when the features I’m waiting for will ship.
But here’s the thing: ETAs are very hard to estimate with any amount of accuracy. Even if you plan well.
And from his follow up:
…If your boss, project manager, or person you’re contracting with asks for an estimate, do your best to come up with something accurate. If you’re writing enterprise software, you may even be contractually bound to provide estimates for when features will ship.
There are ways to get pretty good at this. Pay attention to history and avoid wishful thinking. Don’t assume perfect productivity. Allow for the unexpected, because there’s always something.