Comments on: Software Estimates and the Parable of the Cave

By: Scott Westfall

Scott Westfall — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:29:15 +0000

Sorry about the skyscraper part, Mishkin. I guess I need to stay closer to topics I’m more familiar with.

My point is that software engineering uses more new technologies in innovative ways than many other areas of construction, which poses a great deal of challenge for estimating.

By: Mishkin Berteig

Mishkin Berteig — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:52:11 +0000

Just posted an extensive response to your article: Estimating Software Project.

By: Mishkin Berteig

Mishkin Berteig — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:40:00 +0000

Dude, not that it's a big deal, but your initial little analogy with the skyscraper is full of all sorts of holes! Skyscrapers are always using lots of new tech. Not only that, but generally we're really bad at estimating construction projects too. Check out The Software Construction Analogy is Broken for more on this.

By: Stephane Grenier

Stephane Grenier — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:55:27 +0000

Great parable. This is the first time I’ve heard of a cave analogy, but I think it’s perfect. It’s easy to understand. There’s no way you can know exactly how big a cave will be until you dive in.

And this is also why I strongly favor the iterative process of development. Do it in stages.

For example if you want to make a tourist attraction out of a cave, the first version only needs to encompass enough of the cave to make it interesting. As the years go by, expand the tourist areas, add new paths, etc. Build up on what you have.

Great parable!

By: JFred

JFred — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:02:15 +0000

So what sort of parable do cave explorers (spelunkers) tell when asked about real caves?

Do they tell stories about software?