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Computer science Quote by Fred Brooks

“What one programmer can do in one month, two programmers can do in two months.” quote by Fred Brooks
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““What one programmer can do in one month, two programmers can do in two months.””

Fred Brooks

About This Quote

Source Book: The Mythical Man‑Month, Frederick P. Brooks Jr., 1975

Adding more people to a task often yields diminishing returns due to coordination overhead.

In simple terms: More programmers don’t speed up work linearly.

Key Takeaway

Plan resources wisely.

Themes

productivity teamwork management

Mood

pragmatic analytical

Type

technical advice

When to use this quote

  • software projects
  • startup teams
  • deadline pressure

Key Concepts

software engineering law of diminishing returns

Questions to Reflect On

  • When does adding staff help?
  • How to mitigate coordination costs?
A Different Perspective

Assumes tasks are perfectly divisible, which is rarely true.

3.6 out of 5 (5 ratings)

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