In this highly anticipated book, acclaimed author Steve McConnell unravels the mystery to successful software estimation-distilling academic information and real-world experience into a practical guide for working software professionals. Instead of arcane treatises and rigid modeling techniques, this guide highlights a proven set of procedures, understandable formulas, and heuristics that individuals and development teams can apply to their projects to help achieve estimation proficiency. Critical Estimation Concepts · What Is an "Estimate"? · How Good an Estimator Are You? · Value of Accurate Estimates · Where Does Estimation Error Come From? · Estimate Influences Fundamental Estimation Techniques · Introduction to Estimation Techniques · Count, Compute, Judge · Calibration and Historical Data · Individual Expert Judgment · Decomposition and Recomposition · Estimation by Analogy · Proxy-Based Estimates · Expert Judgment in Groups · Software Estimation Tools · Use of Multiple Approaches · Flow of Software Estimates on a Well-Estimated Project · Standardized Estimation Procedures Specific Estimation Challenges · Special Issues in Estimating Size · Special Issues in Estimating Effort · Special Issues in Estimating Schedule · Estimating Planning Parameters · Estimate Presentation Styles · Politics, Negotiation, and Problem Solving