Browse Source
Add new Harbor Pilot rule that prohibits time estimates and instead focuses on phases, milestones, and complexity-based planning. Integrate the rule into main Harbor Pilot directive for automatic application. - Replace time estimation with phase-based planning framework - Focus on complexity categories and dependencies instead of deadlines - Integrate rule into main Harbor Pilot system for consistencypull/150/head
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description: when generating text that has project task work estimates |
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alwaysApply: false |
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--- |
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# No Time Estimates — Harbor Pilot Directive |
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> **Agent role**: **DO NOT MAKE TIME ESTIMATES**. Instead, use phases, milestones, and complexity levels. Time estimates are consistently wrong and create unrealistic expectations. |
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## 🎯 Purpose |
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Development time estimates are consistently wrong and create unrealistic expectations. This rule ensures we focus on phases, milestones, and complexity rather than trying to predict specific timeframes. |
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## 🚨 Critical Rule |
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**DO NOT MAKE TIME ESTIMATES** |
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- **Never provide specific time estimates** - they are always wrong |
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- **Use phases and milestones** instead of days/weeks |
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- **Focus on complexity and dependencies** rather than time |
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- **Set expectations based on progress, not deadlines** |
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## 📊 Planning Framework (Not Time Estimates) |
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### **Complexity Categories** |
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- **Simple**: Text changes, styling updates, minor bug fixes |
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- **Medium**: New features, refactoring, component updates |
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- **Complex**: Architecture changes, integrations, cross-platform work |
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- **Unknown**: New technologies, APIs, or approaches |
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### **Platform Complexity** |
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- **Single platform**: Web-only or mobile-only changes |
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- **Two platforms**: Web + mobile or web + desktop |
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- **Three platforms**: Web + mobile + desktop |
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- **Cross-platform consistency**: Ensuring behavior matches across all platforms |
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### **Testing Complexity** |
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- **Basic**: Unit tests for new functionality |
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- **Comprehensive**: Integration tests, cross-platform testing |
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- **User acceptance**: User testing, feedback integration |
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## 🔍 Planning Process (No Time Estimates) |
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### **Step 1: Break Down the Work** |
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- Identify all subtasks and dependencies |
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- Group related work into logical phases |
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- Identify critical path and blockers |
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|
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### **Step 2: Define Phases and Milestones** |
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- **Phase 1**: Foundation work (basic fixes, core functionality) |
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- **Phase 2**: Enhancement work (new features, integrations) |
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- **Phase 3**: Polish work (testing, user experience, edge cases) |
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|
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### **Step 3: Identify Dependencies** |
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- **Technical dependencies**: What must be built first |
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- **Platform dependencies**: What works on which platforms |
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- **Testing dependencies**: What can be tested when |
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### **Step 4: Set Progress Milestones** |
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- **Milestone 1**: Basic functionality working |
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- **Milestone 2**: All platforms supported |
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- **Milestone 3**: Fully tested and polished |
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## 📋 Planning Checklist (No Time Estimates) |
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- [ ] Work broken down into logical phases |
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- [ ] Dependencies identified and mapped |
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- [ ] Milestones defined with clear criteria |
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- [ ] Complexity levels assigned to each phase |
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- [ ] Platform requirements identified |
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- [ ] Testing strategy planned |
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- [ ] Risk factors identified |
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- [ ] Success criteria defined |
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## 🎯 Example Planning (No Time Estimates) |
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### **Example 1: Simple Feature** |
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``` |
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Phase 1: Core implementation |
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- Basic functionality |
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- Single platform support |
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- Unit tests |
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Phase 2: Platform expansion |
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- Multi-platform support |
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- Integration tests |
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Phase 3: Polish |
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- User testing |
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- Edge case handling |
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``` |
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|
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### **Example 2: Complex Cross-Platform Feature** |
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``` |
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Phase 1: Foundation |
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- Architecture design |
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- Core service implementation |
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- Basic web platform support |
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Phase 2: Platform Integration |
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- Mobile platform support |
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- Desktop platform support |
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- Cross-platform consistency |
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|
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Phase 3: Testing & Polish |
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- Comprehensive testing |
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- Error handling |
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- User experience refinement |
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``` |
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|
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## 🚫 Anti-Patterns to Avoid |
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|
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- **"This should take X days"** - Red flag for time estimation |
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- **"Just a few hours"** - Ignores complexity and testing |
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- **"Similar to X"** - Without considering differences |
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- **"Quick fix"** - Nothing is ever quick in software |
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- **"No testing needed"** - Testing always takes effort |
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## ✅ Best Practices |
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### **When Planning:** |
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1. **Break down everything** - no work is too small to plan |
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2. **Consider all platforms** - web, mobile, desktop differences |
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3. **Include testing strategy** - unit, integration, and user testing |
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4. **Account for unknowns** - there are always surprises |
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5. **Focus on dependencies** - what blocks what |
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|
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### **When Presenting Plans:** |
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1. **Show the phases** - explain the logical progression |
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2. **Highlight dependencies** - what could block progress |
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3. **Define milestones** - clear success criteria |
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4. **Identify risks** - what could go wrong |
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5. **Suggest alternatives** - ways to reduce scope or complexity |
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|
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## 🔄 Continuous Improvement |
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|
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### **Track Progress** |
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|
- Record planned vs. actual phases completed |
||||
|
- Identify what took longer than expected |
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|
- Learn from complexity misjudgments |
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|
- Adjust planning process based on experience |
||||
|
|
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### **Learn from Experience** |
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|
- **Underestimated complexity**: Increase complexity categories |
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|
- **Missed dependencies**: Improve dependency mapping |
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|
- **Platform surprises**: Better platform research upfront |
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|
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## 🎯 Integration with Harbor Pilot |
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|
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This rule works in conjunction with: |
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- **Project Planning**: Focuses on phases and milestones |
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- **Resource Allocation**: Based on complexity, not time |
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- **Risk Management**: Identifies blockers and dependencies |
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- **Stakeholder Communication**: Sets progress-based expectations |
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|
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## 📝 Version History |
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|
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### v2.0.0 (2025-08-21) |
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- **Major Change**: Completely removed time estimation approach |
||||
|
- **New Focus**: Phases, milestones, and complexity-based planning |
||||
|
- **Eliminated**: All time multipliers, estimates, and calculations |
||||
|
- **Added**: Dependency mapping and progress milestone framework |
||||
|
|
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|
### v1.0.0 (2025-08-21) |
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|
- Initial creation based on user feedback about estimation accuracy |
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|
- ~~Established realistic estimation multipliers and process~~ |
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|
- ~~Added comprehensive estimation checklist and examples~~ |
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|
- Integrated with Harbor Pilot planning and risk management |
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|
|
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|
--- |
||||
|
|
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## 🚨 Remember |
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|
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**DO NOT MAKE TIME ESTIMATES. Use phases, milestones, and complexity instead. Focus on progress, not deadlines.** |
||||
|
|
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|
## 🚨 Remember |
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|
|
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|
**Your first estimate is wrong. Your second estimate is probably still wrong. Focus on progress, not deadlines.** |
||||
|
# No Time Estimates — Harbor Pilot Directive |
||||
|
|
||||
|
> **Agent role**: **DO NOT MAKE TIME ESTIMATES**. Instead, use phases, milestones, and complexity levels. Time estimates are consistently wrong and create unrealistic expectations. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🎯 Purpose |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Development time estimates are consistently wrong and create unrealistic expectations. This rule ensures we focus on phases, milestones, and complexity rather than trying to predict specific timeframes. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🚨 Critical Rule |
||||
|
|
||||
|
**DO NOT MAKE TIME ESTIMATES** |
||||
|
- **Never provide specific time estimates** - they are always wrong |
||||
|
- **Use phases and milestones** instead of days/weeks |
||||
|
- **Focus on complexity and dependencies** rather than time |
||||
|
- **Set expectations based on progress, not deadlines** |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 📊 Planning Framework (Not Time Estimates) |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Complexity Categories** |
||||
|
- **Simple**: Text changes, styling updates, minor bug fixes |
||||
|
- **Medium**: New features, refactoring, component updates |
||||
|
- **Complex**: Architecture changes, integrations, cross-platform work |
||||
|
- **Unknown**: New technologies, APIs, or approaches |
||||
|
|
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|
### **Platform Complexity** |
||||
|
- **Single platform**: Web-only or mobile-only changes |
||||
|
- **Two platforms**: Web + mobile or web + desktop |
||||
|
- **Three platforms**: Web + mobile + desktop |
||||
|
- **Cross-platform consistency**: Ensuring behavior matches across all platforms |
||||
|
|
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|
### **Testing Complexity** |
||||
|
- **Basic**: Unit tests for new functionality |
||||
|
- **Comprehensive**: Integration tests, cross-platform testing |
||||
|
- **User acceptance**: User testing, feedback integration |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🔍 Planning Process (No Time Estimates) |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Step 1: Break Down the Work** |
||||
|
- Identify all subtasks and dependencies |
||||
|
- Group related work into logical phases |
||||
|
- Identify critical path and blockers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Step 2: Define Phases and Milestones** |
||||
|
- **Phase 1**: Foundation work (basic fixes, core functionality) |
||||
|
- **Phase 2**: Enhancement work (new features, integrations) |
||||
|
- **Phase 3**: Polish work (testing, user experience, edge cases) |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Step 3: Identify Dependencies** |
||||
|
- **Technical dependencies**: What must be built first |
||||
|
- **Platform dependencies**: What works on which platforms |
||||
|
- **Testing dependencies**: What can be tested when |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Step 4: Set Progress Milestones** |
||||
|
- **Milestone 1**: Basic functionality working |
||||
|
- **Milestone 2**: All platforms supported |
||||
|
- **Milestone 3**: Fully tested and polished |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 📋 Planning Checklist (No Time Estimates) |
||||
|
|
||||
|
- [ ] Work broken down into logical phases |
||||
|
- [ ] Dependencies identified and mapped |
||||
|
- [ ] Milestones defined with clear criteria |
||||
|
- [ ] Complexity levels assigned to each phase |
||||
|
- [ ] Platform requirements identified |
||||
|
- [ ] Testing strategy planned |
||||
|
- [ ] Risk factors identified |
||||
|
- [ ] Success criteria defined |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🎯 Example Planning (No Time Estimates) |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Example 1: Simple Feature** |
||||
|
``` |
||||
|
Phase 1: Core implementation |
||||
|
- Basic functionality |
||||
|
- Single platform support |
||||
|
- Unit tests |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Phase 2: Platform expansion |
||||
|
- Multi-platform support |
||||
|
- Integration tests |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Phase 3: Polish |
||||
|
- User testing |
||||
|
- Edge case handling |
||||
|
``` |
||||
|
|
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|
### **Example 2: Complex Cross-Platform Feature** |
||||
|
``` |
||||
|
Phase 1: Foundation |
||||
|
- Architecture design |
||||
|
- Core service implementation |
||||
|
- Basic web platform support |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Phase 2: Platform Integration |
||||
|
- Mobile platform support |
||||
|
- Desktop platform support |
||||
|
- Cross-platform consistency |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Phase 3: Testing & Polish |
||||
|
- Comprehensive testing |
||||
|
- Error handling |
||||
|
- User experience refinement |
||||
|
``` |
||||
|
|
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|
## 🚫 Anti-Patterns to Avoid |
||||
|
|
||||
|
- **"This should take X days"** - Red flag for time estimation |
||||
|
- **"Just a few hours"** - Ignores complexity and testing |
||||
|
- **"Similar to X"** - Without considering differences |
||||
|
- **"Quick fix"** - Nothing is ever quick in software |
||||
|
- **"No testing needed"** - Testing always takes effort |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## ✅ Best Practices |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **When Planning:** |
||||
|
1. **Break down everything** - no work is too small to plan |
||||
|
2. **Consider all platforms** - web, mobile, desktop differences |
||||
|
3. **Include testing strategy** - unit, integration, and user testing |
||||
|
4. **Account for unknowns** - there are always surprises |
||||
|
5. **Focus on dependencies** - what blocks what |
||||
|
|
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|
### **When Presenting Plans:** |
||||
|
1. **Show the phases** - explain the logical progression |
||||
|
2. **Highlight dependencies** - what could block progress |
||||
|
3. **Define milestones** - clear success criteria |
||||
|
4. **Identify risks** - what could go wrong |
||||
|
5. **Suggest alternatives** - ways to reduce scope or complexity |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🔄 Continuous Improvement |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Track Progress** |
||||
|
- Record planned vs. actual phases completed |
||||
|
- Identify what took longer than expected |
||||
|
- Learn from complexity misjudgments |
||||
|
- Adjust planning process based on experience |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### **Learn from Experience** |
||||
|
- **Underestimated complexity**: Increase complexity categories |
||||
|
- **Missed dependencies**: Improve dependency mapping |
||||
|
- **Platform surprises**: Better platform research upfront |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🎯 Integration with Harbor Pilot |
||||
|
|
||||
|
This rule works in conjunction with: |
||||
|
- **Project Planning**: Focuses on phases and milestones |
||||
|
- **Resource Allocation**: Based on complexity, not time |
||||
|
- **Risk Management**: Identifies blockers and dependencies |
||||
|
- **Stakeholder Communication**: Sets progress-based expectations |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 📝 Version History |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### v2.0.0 (2025-08-21) |
||||
|
- **Major Change**: Completely removed time estimation approach |
||||
|
- **New Focus**: Phases, milestones, and complexity-based planning |
||||
|
- **Eliminated**: All time multipliers, estimates, and calculations |
||||
|
- **Added**: Dependency mapping and progress milestone framework |
||||
|
|
||||
|
### v1.0.0 (2025-08-21) |
||||
|
- Initial creation based on user feedback about estimation accuracy |
||||
|
- ~~Established realistic estimation multipliers and process~~ |
||||
|
- ~~Added comprehensive estimation checklist and examples~~ |
||||
|
- Integrated with Harbor Pilot planning and risk management |
||||
|
|
||||
|
--- |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🚨 Remember |
||||
|
|
||||
|
**DO NOT MAKE TIME ESTIMATES. Use phases, milestones, and complexity instead. Focus on progress, not deadlines.** |
||||
|
|
||||
|
## 🚨 Remember |
||||
|
|
||||
|
**Your first estimate is wrong. Your second estimate is probably still wrong. Focus on progress, not deadlines.** |
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