Me: "Due to all the refactoring that's needed --which I've been repeatedly bringing up for two years -- just to implement it, it's going to take about 6 months."

PM: "Is there any way you can have it ready for the release in two weeks?"

Me: "No."

PM: Proceeds to tell everyone that it will be ready for the release in two weeks.

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Don't worry, it's not like crucial decisions such as whether or not you get to keep your job depend on the outcome...

[–] grue@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xRqXYsksFg

[–] bestboyfriendintheworld@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Due to all the refactoring that’s needed --which I’ve been repeatedly bringing up for two years

Never let that accumulate for that long. Continuously do small refactors to improve the structure.

Always spend at least 20% of the time on stuff you know is necessary, but will never be prioritized by marketing heads.

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Always spend at least 20% of the time on stuff you know is necessary, but will never be prioritized by marketing heads.

This is the way.

Leadership: Please don't prioritize code cleanup, we have critical features we need to release.

Me: Oh. I didn't realize you were taking ownership of (complex code no one wants to be associated with). I've got diagrams I can send you.

Leadership: No, that's still yours. We just need you to focus on these features, and not any planned maintenance, for just the next sprint.

Me: So you'll take over guiding maintenance on (complex source code no one wants to get near)? I can send you the backlog for your project plans...

Leadership: That's not what we're saying. Please just prioritize the feature.

Me: Oh. Sure. I will prioritize that feature, and I'll only do the bare minimum cleanup that can't be avoided, right now. (Which will turn out to be however much cleanup I damn well please, because their eyes glaze over if I explain it, anyway.)

Leadership: Now you're getting it!

Me: Gee whiz. Thanks for talking it through with me.

[–] bestboyfriendintheworld@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

however much cleanup I damn well please

The programmer is the expert to make the decision on what’s necessary to implement a feature.

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago

Exactly.