There are many pieces to a software development project, some more important than others. There are the mundane tasks that, although very important for a successful project, sometimes aren’t the most exciting to code/write. And it’s a tendency for some people to get all the “fun” aspects of a task done and then move on to the next steps, without completely finishing the boring parts of their first task. It may seem obvious, but…you should really try to avoid this if at all possible.
I realize there are sometimes constraints which make moving on the smarter option. For example, maybe you’re waiting on client feedback or you’re stuck on a particular issue and taking a mental break will likely help you resolve the task better later, with fresh eyes. But my point here is that you don’t want to get a screen or process to the 90% level, with the “majority” of its features or functions working, and then start on something new, without finishing the stuff up that might not be so exciting.
If you find yourself saying, “I’ll get back to it later” try to fight this urge. There’s a chance you’ll never go back to it, and it might accidentally squeak out into production unfinished. There’s also a chance you’ll create more stress for yourself, worrying about all the open tasks you have yet to complete. Leaving a bunch of incomplete work for yourself might create a feeling of having “so much to do” when, in fact, you don’t. Why create an unnecessary stressor that may only serve to distract you for the bigger picture?
You’re also likely to see a decrease in your overall efficiency when jumping back and forth on separate tasks. When you find yourself not getting as much done over the course of the project, you’ll probably also find that this is when your budgets start to bloat! If you do have to leave a task undone, prioritize it high on your to-do list so you can get right back to it when you’ve got the capacity and it’s still fresh in your mind.
So what’s the benefit of leaving little bits of work until the end of your project? I don’t see any. See your work to 100% the first time through and you’ll:
- Be more efficient
- Produce quality software
- Stay under budget
- Feel better about your overall workload