> -----Original Message----- > From: Charlie Griefer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 4:58 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: How long do you expect > > i think a lot of that depends on documentation. > > if there's no documentation, they should consider themselves lucky > that somebody took on the project at all. > > that's just IMO of course. I have yet to come across a project with > documentation (or ample documentation).
I agree. In my experience there are at least four factors: 1) Level of documentation (both internal - self-documentation and comments - and external -specifications). And not just documentation but GOOD docs - having every line of code commented isn't useful if the commenter was insane. 2) Toolsets expected to be understood. This is an iffy one, but important. A lot of people think that "it's a CF app" when in fact it's actually CF/XML/XSL/Java/C++/PDF/SQL/CSS/JavaScript/DHTML app. The more technologies embedded-in/attached-to an app the longer it'll take to get up to speed - even if you've got a good handle on the technologies to begin with. 3) The level of personal support. Are you replacing the only guy that knew the app? Then you're screwed and management should know it. Are you surrounded by people that know the app better but are not given the time to work with you? Then you're almost as screwed. 4) Size and complexity of the app. This is an obvious one but is often forgotten by management: big apps, especially those built with a lot of technology or multiple methodologies, take longer to come to grips with. You may never actually "get" the whole thing. I still don't sh*t about the app I'm working on and I've been on this team over a year. I think it was built simply to emasculate me. To make me feel childlike and inadequate. Be clear and honest with management, especially if their expectations are unreasonable. If they challenge you, challenge them: ask for what you need: Docs? Developer time? Training? Every time they fail to provide what you need to move forward make sure they know that it will impact your ability. Either that or grin and bear it. But only do that if the former would risk your job (and if that's the case you should be looking anyway). Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Create robust enterprise, web RIAs. Upgrade & integrate Adobe Coldfusion MX7 with Flex 2 http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/flex2/ Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:228937 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
