How to ask a question to the developers¶
If you want to get information about ability to add some new features in program and get time estimation for it, you need to describe it as detailed, as possible.
Wrong approach¶
- Is it possible to change something in xxx?
- Is it possible to add new function in xxx?
- Is it possible to show more information in xxx?
- and any other questions without description.
Answer for all question is Yes.
Time estimation for all such improvements is Some time.
Amount of useful information in any answer - zero.
Real situation¶
Source wrong question: Is it possible to see in which grids use one or another clock?
But really question is not about ability, but about time and as result, money. Time depends on difficulty of task that will be set to developer[s].
So which is real developer task? So what you really need?
Question gives really no information about form of task implementation or minimum required functionality, acceptable time frame and has no any relation to currently implemented functions.
Without these information any of following implementation is acceptable and fit to the requirement.
- Main menu item Clock usage, type clock name manually, press Ok and get message box with Text Yes, it’s used or No, it is not used or "No clock with such name".
- Main menu item Clock usage and you will see new floating window that shows list of all clocks with detailed description of grids and hours in which each clock is used with dynamic change reflection.
- Menu item Clock usage in clock editor menu that show information about current clock usage only.
- Context menu item for grid that open same window for clock, selected in current cell.
- Context menu item for grid that open other window with information for all clocks, selected in all current cells.
- SQL command, that should be executed in Management studio and returns something about clock usage
- Any other implementation, that developer can imagine.
Each way has it’s time and cost. But, ever having these variants developer can not choose right one of them, because he has no link to customer, has no information about contract cost, contract time frame and other business things that only helps to get right decision.
And these question start chain of ping-pong question "What you really need?" "Which time your have?" and so on. And we are just waisting a time (and money) for it instead of doing useful things: setting task to developers, programming etc.
Right approach¶
Try to explain to yourself or, better, to typical user how he will use this new feature in his work. Imagine, that he has common information about program, but you need to explain him details of how it works, what for and how to use it.
In other words, imagine that "ideal implementation" of your desire is already implemented and just describe it.
Fit it to time frame you have.
And write something like this:
> We need add following
> * Context menu item for week grid that open other modal window with information about clock usage of all clocks, selected in all selected grid cells.
> * Windows shows tree of clocks
> root first level items are clock names
> child items are one for one grid with name of grid, in which clock is used
> * Tree has column "Hour count" which shows number of hours with such clock in this grid
>
> It is minimum requirement. It should be done till 1 of April.
> Optionally, if it is not takes long time, add menu item Clock usage in clock editor menu that show same information for current clock.
> These functions need to every music program editor to estimate results of clock change and avoid to accidental clock change result. Or just to clear garbage clocks.
Even this description contains points to discussion, but it in general it’s enough to answer
> Ok, it will take week of one developer work an we can include it in version 1.2.3.4
