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#NoEstimates (Allen Holub)

Allen Holub · talk · Watch on YouTube

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What it is

Allen Holub's keynote arguing that estimation is harmful, particularly in Agile, and presenting planning approaches based on data and flow instead. It covers the distinction between estimation and data-driven prediction.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended in estimation and sprint debates as a well-reasoned account of where waste is and isn't in agile.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “I found it extremely interesting and highly recommend it.”

    Argues estimates cause impossible deadlines and shows predictive alternatives.

    Vinalin, 2019-04 · Strong recommendation · in “Deadlines Are Killing Us, and Almost Everything Else I Know About Leadership”

  2. “If you want a well-reasoned discussion of where the waste is and isn't, I highly recommend Allen Holub's talk #NoEstimates”

    Well-reasoned discussion of where waste is and isn't in agile.

    coryfklein, 2022-10 · Strong recommendation · in “I don’t believe in sprints”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: noestimates, agile, cycle time, planning, cumulative flow

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