Laws of Software Engineering · Pattern
Pattern
Hofstadter's Law
It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take this rule into account.
How to use it. For new work, double your estimate and add room for unknowns. For routine work, trust your past records.
How it gets misused. Used to refuse estimating at all. The cure for bad estimates is better records.
Related
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Pattern
The Ninety-Ninety Rule
The first 90% of the code takes 90% of the time. The last 10% takes the other 90%.
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Pattern
Parkinson's Law
Work expands to fill the time you give it.