Programmers Quote by Eric S. Raymond
““Brook’s Law: “Adding more programmers to a late project makes it later.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Mythical Man-Month, 1975
Adding more developers to a delayed project typically worsens delays due to coordination overhead and diminishing returns.
In simple terms: More programmers can slow a late project.
Key Takeaway
Limit team size when schedule is already behind.
Themes
project management
software development
team dynamics
Mood
practical
cautionary
Type
technical
managerial
When to use this quote
- software startups
- deadline crunch
- outsourcing decisions
Key Concepts
agile methodology
resource allocation
communication overhead
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it appropriate to add staff to a delayed project?
- How can you mitigate coordination costs?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes extra help is needed for specialized tasks.
