Thread: Nokia's release processes
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meep is offline meep
2010-01-11 , 12:37
Posts: 94 | Thanked: 10 times | Joined on Jan 2010
#23
Originally Posted by jjx View Post
It is not possible to set dates for bug fixes until the cause of the bug has been found and a solution devised. With nastier bugs no timescale at all can be set at first, because nobody knows why it happens or even if a fix is possible.

When a fix is found, it must be confirmed by testing, review, etc. otherwise it is not known to be a fix.

When all that's done, only then, can a release timescale be set.



In general, there are two options, both with pros and cons:

1. Set goals, and be unable to say (reliably) how long it will take, only give estimates and ranges. This seems to be Nokia's way so far with the N900. (It is also my way when working )

2. Set times for releases, and be unable to say what will be included, only give estimates and have unreliable intentions. This is called timeboxing. It can encourage regular output, but the downside is people getting expectations about what will be included and being disappointed.
Good post

Yes, I agree that you can't set dates until a cause of a bug has been identified and how much coding will be needed to resolve it. What you can do is the following though:

1. Scope what fixes the customer needs the most
2. Identify the causes
3. Talk to somebody with enough knowledge of the relevant code to identify what changes will be needed to resolve the problem
4. Tot up all of your times, resources etc. and create a plan with a deadline and contingency, giving you a dev release time.
5. Use risk analysis to scope the amount of testing needed, and time to do so
6. Use this to set a release date / estimate for a beta release

etc. etc.

I can say for certain that other companies manage this. For example with an MS patch Tuesday, they know the scope of each release far in advance.

Maybe the processes are different for Nokia, but IMO it is clear that there's alot of confusion here with regard to when a release can be expected, and I would say some frustration, fuelled by the lack of communication about this.

Even if it is not possible to set exact dates, it is possible to strongly control communication and let everyone know what's going on... Unless I am missing something it seems Nokia is being pretty quiet.

Cheers
Last edited by meep; 2010-01-11 at 12:47.