Let's face it: creating estimates for tasks is not an exact science. Whether it's points, hours, level of effort, or whatever the next fad is, it mostly boils down to what feels like a shot in the dark.

I will review my "factors of a good estimate," a checklist of 15 lessons learned, tips, tricks, and strategies for creating accurate and timely estimates on your developer tasks. I'll also show you a unique estimating method that has worked for me, which you can take back to your own team.

I'm hopeful that sharing my experience of creating the majority of estimates at my company over the past 24 years will help you estimate more quickly and accurately.

At the end of the day, if you can create better estimates, maybe your project managers and team members will end up becoming long-time friends.