Ah, the age-old question asked by managers, clients, and product owners alike… usually right after you’ve just finished reading the project brief. The answer? “It depends” — followed by awkward silence and maybe a nervous laugh. Whether you’re team Waterfall or team Agile , one thing’s for sure: estimating timelines is part art, part science, and part hoping no one adds features mid-sprint. Let’s dive into how to properly estimate software project timelines — and avoid the infamous “We thought it’d take 2 weeks but it took 3 months” situation. 1. Understand the Scope (No, Really. Understand it.) Common mistake: You’re told, “It’s just a simple login page,” and you estimate half a day. Turns out they want: Email/password + Google/Facebook login OTP verification Password strength meter Dark mode And it has to work on a smart fridge. Pro tip: Before estimating anything, get a detailed list of requirements . If they say, “We’ll finalize the features later,” your response shou...