The release is too big!

It isn’t unusual for me to release at least one new update a week for the Costs to Expect API and website. I find it significantly easier to manage and test with small iterative releases. As the only developer on this project, anything that makes my life simpler is a plus.

Occasionally a release has to touch a substantial part of the Costs to Expect API, v2.02.0 is an example of that. I need to review every section of code relating to items.

I intended to split the development work for multiple item types across two versions, v2.00.0 and v2.02.0. The database gets upgraded, and then I hit the code and expose the feature.

In planning, I appear to have overlooked summary routes. Rather than extend the design I developed to incorporate item summary routes; it makes sense to modify it slightly, given the ‘new’ requirements. If I soldiered on and upgraded the item summary routes, I suspect I would want to refactor them in a few weeks. Rather than face that situation, I feel it makes sense to go back to the drawing board and ensure I develop a design that will work going forward.

Post-release of v2.02.0, I will rework the current design, refactor as necessary and then add support for multiple item types to the item summary routes.

I gave myself one to two weeks to develop support for multiple item types. It turns out, two weeks is probably about right given the increased (actual) scope.

Three iterations of work left.

Upon checking my tracker this morning, I saw something that I haven’t seen since I began using Pivotal Tracker almost 1400 stories ago, the end of the backlog.

Am I done? No, far from, the last 14 months has all been phase one.

Unless I create additional tickets, which we both know I will*, phase two is due to begin at the end of October, the start of November.

I’ve made a point of not planning for phase two; I’m attempting to stop myself from getting distracted by future goals rather than the problems I need to solve now. I have been planning; I’ve just been trying to keep it all in my head and not put pen to paper.

In October I’ll start planning in earnest. Hopefully, the foundations I have created are suitable, I’m confident they are, but until I begin planning phase two, I will not know for sure.

*Alternatively, I could dive into the icebox and pull out a few tickets.