Varna’s Mind

A guide to estimating percentage complete and remaining time.

I haven't looked at the problem. Completed: 0% Time esimate: about 2 weeks.

I've looked at the problem. Completed: 50% Time estimate: about 2 more weeks.

I've implemented almost everything. All that remains is the difficult stuff that I don't really know how to do. Completed: 90% Time estimate: about 2 more weeks.

I've done everything. All that remains is documentation, code review, tests and error handling. Completed: 99% Time estimate: about 2 more weeks.

I still haven't finished documentation, code review, tests, or error handling. The truth is I've been gold plating what I already wrote. But I just saw another problem that seems more interesting. Completed: 100% Time estimate: 0 more weeks.

Something for you leading into the Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoy this short video (below) by Amy Thornley, which she made for smile for london. It was animated frame-by-frame in Excel. I look forward to when someone makes this an actual game. That way you could play it at the office, and it would look like you're working when you pause it.

[Vimeo via @creativeapps]