How often do you finish a project?

Weedpacket

Originally posted by dalecosp
I'm still not a programmer, I think. At least, I never get any done, it seems.

Dunno bout youse jokers but $%!@!@#Sorry

I don't know about you, but I wonder if programming is one of the greatest sources of unfinished projects of any profession. I know I've got megabytes at least of half-completed projects, chunks of source code that aren't going anywhere right now, libraries that are only half-written (or, what is strangely a lot more common, 90%-written), and things that "I'll get around to when I have some free time".

And then there are the other sources of unfinished programs.

Applications that never get completed because there is some irritating niggle that makes it unusable, but it looks like fixing it will mean a complete rewrite and you're bored with the thing anyway.

Stuff that would have been finished if you hadn't started imposing your own scope creep on it while you were working by thinking of new stuff it should have.

Version 1.0s that are really betas but you needed to get something out of the door to give you breathing room in which to write the real Version 1.0, but then along came the next job.

Projects you started, but dropped when you came across another implementation that was better than your approach. You didn't delete it though because you might be able to mine it for ideas later.

Stuff you began just so's you could learn some new technology, that you abandoned once you'd learned it.

planetsim

Your not about to give us the story of your life next are you weed :o

If your a real programmer your bound to have more than one project that is just sitting nicely wasting good hard disk space. I have about two at the moment one which is will is probably about 3yrs old now (im almost sounding like a car yard owner with that vintage car which has been sitting out back for 20yrs gathering dust).

For me majority of the time even though I plan it (well enough to say I did), half way through I always find a better way to handle the most important parts of the program (yes we need a rewrite, which probably will need another rewrite, and if Im past that yes another will be required).

However this isnt the reason for one of my unfinished projects, re-learning the basics of Java again and what sounds like another I have to learn in the not too distant future will be taking most of my time.

I also find forums to be quite the distraction and some of my problems not focusing on completing them are derived from going to forums.

Elizabeth

I'll admit, I'm "completion challenged." But it's not only limited to programming. It's been a curse I've had for my whole life... home improvement projects that sit half-finished, arts and crafts that sit half-finished, books that go half-read. While I'm getting better at completing things and managing my time appropriately, I still struggle.

I have all these cool ideas floating around in my head and then when I sit down to actually DO it, either I lose enthusiasm half way through or I get distracted and I never get back to it.

That's why I'm a very task oriented person-- looking at the whole project at once is too overwhelming for me and I lose interest... if I break it into small tasks then I can work on those one at a time in the small snippets of free time I get here and there.

I also just ordered a book: Time Management for the Creative Person which may be right up my alley. If I finish reading it, that is.

Merve

I don't think I've ever finished something completely. I've got loads of stuff that I've written but never bothered maintaining though...

/me goes to give my calculator a good overhaul, then sighs and realizes it can't compete with other calculators...

goldbug

/me raises lack-of-completion hand in shame.

I find it hard to complete projects, but even more so, I find it harder establishing a proper metric that defines what "done" really is.

LordShryku

Originally posted by goldbug
I find it hard to complete projects, but even more so, I find it harder establishing a proper metric that defines what "done" really is.

I have this same problem. For me, beyond the /www/dev directory I make by default to put most of my uncompleted works in, I don't know that I ever really consider something "complete". I always have some change, some tweak come to me later on that requires a little time that I don't have. At that point, my completed project becomes incomplete until I implement this change. Sometimes, I really think my mind works against me.

pohopo

I complete almost every project I do. Granted I am very careful when I pick a project and I never take a project lightly. I have a failure complex where I hate to fail and will work till I drop dead to meet my personal expectations.

BuzzLY

Originally posted by Weedpacket
We'll build you a new one, Mrs. McNulty.

... but we probably won't finish it.

BuzzLY

I agree with Elizabeth... I have not only many code projects I never finished, but I have a book I'm writing that I never seem to have^{H^{H^{H^H}}} make time to write. I think the official word is sticktoitiveness. I don't have much of it.

However, the thing that really bugs me the most is

dalecosp

Well, and hmmm. I seem to have been the source of this thought, so I'd blame well better give an answer, eh?

Originally posted by Weedpacket Dunno bout youse jokers but $%!@!@#Sorry

Often want to do that. Generally try not too, though. You "regs" probably saw me (jokingly) flame at NetNerd about this y-day.... :evilgrin:

I don't know about you, but I wonder if programming is one of the greatest sources of unfinished projects of any profession. I know I've got megabytes at least of half-completed projects, chunks of source code that aren't going anywhere right now, libraries that are only half-written (or, what is strangely a lot more common, 90%-written), and things that "I'll get around to when I have some free time".

As I stated, this is a problem for me. I'm not sure of the causes, but the problem appears fairly frequently. And, curiously enough, mostly in cases where technology/computers/devices/pushing buttons is involved...But I also would consider many "artists" to have this issue, particularly poets, writers, songwriters, etc. And let's don't forget race car drivers, marathoners, and "taste testers".... 😃

And then there are the other sources of unfinished programs.

Applications that never get completed because there is some irritating niggle that makes it unusable, but it looks like fixing it will mean a complete rewrite and you're bored with the thing anyway.

One thing I hate: finishing (or nearly) a script (or suite of scripts), finding that it works, but then realizing that if I'd taken another tack (sometimes it's something that I learned during the process of writing, or during the time-frame) a complete rewrite would be faster, more elegant, and less of a "kluge". Planning ahead is so nice, but I'm such a small shop I can't afford that luxury....

Stuff that would have been finished if you hadn't started imposing your own scope creep on it while you were working by thinking of new stuff it should have.

I don't know that everyone would have this problem, but I guess it's possible. It's a downside of the creative genius that God (or your choice of Designer) gave to all humankind, IMHO. I am very definitely the dreamer/thinker/creative type (first career, music, and sometimes I still make more in that "sideline"), and I just think, and think, and think ... when I should be "sticking to a plan" (that I often don't have, see above). And what's even worse, if you're a web designer, is when you're designing for a client who just like that, too....

Version 1.0s that are really betas but you needed to get something out of the door to give you breathing room in which to write the real Version 1.0, but then along came the next job.

Maybe can relate. Perhaps this is related to the engineer's maxim "if it ain't broke...." OTOH, maybe it's a "business pressure". Or, maybe it's a virus that we all got while washing ucfirst("windows") ....

Projects you started, but dropped when you came across another implementation that was better than your approach. You didn't delete it though because you might be able to mine it for ideas later.

I keep buying HD's, even when mine haven't failed yet....

Stuff you began just so's you could learn some new technology, that you abandoned once you'd learned it.

Yup.

But life's funny. There are lots of things I finish. Breakfast, for example. Anytime I drive anywhere (with a notable exception or two), I arrive, and get out of the vehicle. I finish work at my "second job" on a weekly basis, for good or for ill. I finish sleeping every morning. I finish ... well, that comes to an end, also.

It makes you wonder --- do we have some psychological need to finish everything?? What about reality ... some things will probably never get done ....

Gee, Weedpacket, what a lot of questions you raise.... 🙂

dalecosp

Originally posted by BuzzLY
However, the thing that really bugs me the most is

ROFLM*O!

vaaaska

I too often wonder if perserverance and/or determination were either the work of madmen or the weak.

I'm nearing a major milestone in a project I've been doing on the site for years now. At times I've wondered why I'm even bothering but every time I show a little more the feedback is good. So, y'all will get bugged about it in a short while from now.

davidjam

Originally posted by Weedpacket
Stuff that would have been finished if you hadn't started imposing your own scope creep on it while you were working by thinking of new stuff it should have.

This is my main problem: adding "features".

On the other hand, I think that when one is just starting out (like me) the whole process turns into one epic learning experience. (Though I am discovering that "elegance" is far more than an aesthetic consideration -- Simplicity is a divine attribute.)

suepahfly

I tend to start project witch don't finish and end up using libraries written for that project for another project.

I also tend to spend alot of time on a project, then decide to do a rewrite and give it another name, making it a another project.

The projects i did for my proffesion do get finished. Altough I usually end up 'hacking' code because the client wants that and this feature added/changed. This is more a problem for the application designer though. I just do what i'm told too.

Weedpacket

I just looked at my "Stuff" directory, which allegedly contains "what I'm working on now". It's 302MB, of which 241 are occupied by .tar.bz2 archives.

I'm never going to get through it all.

planetsim

Originally posted by Weedpacket
I just looked at my "Stuff" directory, which allegedly contains "what I'm working on now". It's 302MB, of which 241 are occupied by .tar.bz2 archives.

I'm never going to get through it all.

Sure you will, you just have to tell your boss that you will be retiring, so you can finish them all. On the other hand if retiring isnt your thing just yet maybe use that nifty "DELETE" button on your keyboard, and yes have fun deleting those projects which seem useless or uninteresting to you now.

Now if you cant do that, well then you have a problem than which may need counseling :evilgrin:

Drakla

Originally posted by Weedpacket
I just looked at my "Stuff" directory, which allegedly contains "what I'm working on now". It's 302MB, of which 241 are occupied by .tar.bz2 archives.

I'm never going to get through it all.

Maybe you should raffle if all off, or take it down the charity shop, see what they can do with it.

Somebody needs to start a show called "How Clean is Your Hard-Drive?" where a specialist helps you let go of that version of Boulderdash (complete with Gui level editor) you wrote in C++ Builder in 1996...

Jason_Batten

A webmasters job is NEVER finished :glare:

planetsim

Originally posted by NetNerd85
A webmasters job is NEVER finished :glare:

Depends, a project is suppose to have a definite start and end date. So no a webmaster should finish a job, however that doesnt mean the webmaster wont take on new projects.

I guess most here have poor project management skills (including myself) probably why we never really finish anything.

pohopo

Originally posted by planetsim
Depends, a project is suppose to have a definite start and end date. So no a webmaster should finish a job, however that doesnt mean the webmaster wont take on new projects.

I guess most here have poor project management skills (including myself) probably why we never really finish anything.

I believe no project should be longer then 6 months. If it is then it should be broken up into multiple phases.