Raible Designs

The problem with Deadlines

Keith brings something to the table that I did not know (but I did suspect):

Anyway, back to the likely effects of applying schedule pressure. It is interesting to note that a University of NSW study, quoted in Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams, concluded that "projects on which the boss applied no schedule pressure whatsoever ("Just wake me up when you're done.") had the highest productivity of all."

The problem is that we, as software developers, will always end up with tight (sometimes ridiculous) deadlines - and customers will always want us to do it for less. This is reasonable considering that this is how the business world runs and thrives. Get it done quicker for less. The interesting thing is I don't think this happens with other engineering projects, such as constructing buildings, houses, public works, etc. Sure the folks who are paying for the project want it to get done cheap and fast, but there's all kinds of permits and inspections that have to take place throughout the process.

Wouldn't it be ironic if someday if folks (from a 3rd party) would come in every so often and inspect and approve our code?

Deadlines suck, plain and simple. The reason they exists is that someone (that's paying your wages) told someone else they could have something done by ${insert date here}. I doubt it'll ever end until we're the ones paying the wages and promising deliverables - to make our businesses profitable and our customers happy. The other option is to get a really cool boss that understands Software Development and actually listens to your estimates. I've had this a couple of times - man those folks are cool to work for. Kudos to Dan and Alan - you guys really know how to run a software shop.

Does Apple's Cinema Display have some new competition?

For $500 less than Apple's 23" cinema display, you can get a 45" awesome-looking monitor from the company L. Looks cool - though the company does seem to be similar to Hypersonic PC in that they have wicked looking products, but no one has ever heard of them. In my experience, it's best to go with the name-brand companies. Also, isn't it funny how their 17" laptop looks a LOT like Hypersonic's ZX7. Since I actually had the ZX7 sitting in my lap for a couple of days, I'm willing to bet they're both built from the same hardware.

Deadline Week

This is one of those weeks when I'm a freak of nature. A code monkey with a passion for getting things done. Yet there's too much to do and its all due by Friday.

Yep, this is a week with a deadline. It's been building since I started at this new gig about a month ago. We all knew it was coming, and we're somewhat prepared, but there's still a lot to do. The screwed up thing is I can't seem to think about anything else, and all I want to do is code, code, code. I don't want to eat, sleep or go to the gym. I just want to get it done: code, code, code: I'll neglect my family, friends and body to pump out a software release - because my mind is enthralled by the idea of deadlines. My body loves the excitement, the passion makes my blood boil and my brain just wants more, more, more.

The worst part of it all? It won't matter next week, or even the day after we get it all done. No one will really care. It was a deadline - we said we could do it, and that's what they expected. When we're super pumped that we got it all done, no one will care - we said we could do it. And my reward? I'll be so damned burned out (from spending so much time on the computer) that I won't even want to look at one - not even Foxxy (my new powerbook).

It's strange that I know this is happening - or that I've at least recognized it this time. I don't think it will help though. I'll have to make sure and apologize to Julie and Abbie for being such a narrow-minded prick all week.

Good Stuff ~ Simpsons

 Just a friendly reminder...

Out for sushi

Murphy's Birthday

Great American Beer Festival

Next week: The Great American Beer Festival. I just got an e-mail saying they've accepted me as a volunteer on the Brew Crew. Should be a good time.

New Desktop?

While I'm seriously thinking about a new PowerBook, the more important item on the agenda is refreshing my desktop. It's a P4 1.5 GHz (1 MB RAM) Dell Dimension 8100. I like Windows XP and I love writing Java in it - moreso than any other OS (really!). So I owe it to myself to speed things up a bit on my primary development box. So I went searching on eBay and found I can get a much better machine (almost twice as fast) for only $800. Do you think that's a good deal? I sure do...

Sunrise on the way in

It pays to get up early.

South Platte River

Nice day for a ride. Matt Good, my old boss from eDeploy.com, is on the left.

Spelling

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy.