# Development Estimation

> Use when estimating time, effort, or complexity for features or projects - provides structured estimation workflows with breakdowns, risks, and confidence intervals.

- Skill: `nickcrew/development-estimation` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add nickcrew/development-estimation`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/nickcrew/development-estimation/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: nickcrew (https://skillmd.com/u/nickcrew)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/nickcrew/development-estimation

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# Development Estimation

## Overview
Create consistent, defensible estimates by breaking scope into components, identifying risks, and providing confidence intervals.

## When to Use
- Estimating feature or project scope
- Providing effort or complexity estimates
- Delivering risk-aware breakdowns

Avoid when:
- The task is trivial or a rough gut-check is sufficient
- Requirements are unknown and need discovery first

## Quick Reference

| Task | Load reference |
| --- | --- |
| Estimation workflow | `skills/development-estimation/references/estimate.md` |

## Workflow
1. Define scope and estimation type (time/effort/complexity).
2. Load the estimation reference for structure.
3. Break into components and dependencies.
4. Add risks and confidence intervals.
5. Deliver estimate with assumptions.

## Output
- Estimate with breakdown and confidence interval
- Assumptions, risks, and validation notes

## Common Mistakes
- Estimating without clear scope
- Ignoring risk and dependency factors
- Overstating precision beyond available data