Wait time

What is wait time?

Wait time in software engineering refers to the duration that developers spend idly awaiting the completion of dependent activities before they can proceed with their tasks. This includes the time spent waiting for software builds to complete, automated tests to run, code reviews to be conducted, and even for meetings to start or end. Calculating wait time involves tracking the start and end points of each waiting period during the development process. To measure it effectively, one must aggregate these durations over a specific period to understand the impact of waiting on overall productivity and project timelines.

Why is wait time important?

Efficiency. Wait time directly impacts the overall efficiency of the development process. When developers spend less time waiting, they can allocate more time to coding, problem-solving, and innovation. Reducing wait time helps in speeding up the development cycle, thereby allowing more features to be developed and delivered in less time.

Resource utilization. High wait times often indicate poor resource allocation where either tools or personnel are not optimally utilized. For instance, prolonged build times might suggest the need for better hardware or software optimization. Similarly, long waits for code reviews could indicate staffing issues. Efficiently managing resources can significantly reduce these wait times.

Morale and productivity. Extended periods of inactivity can lead to frustration and decreased morale among developers. This is particularly true in environments where the pace of work is expected to be fast yet is hindered by waiting for other processes or team members. By minimizing wait time, teams maintain high levels of energy and engagement, which in turn boosts overall productivity.

What are the limitations of wait time?

Does not indicate quality. Wait time metrics alone do not provide insights into the quality of the work being performed. A short wait time can still lead to poor-quality outputs if the work is rushed or if insufficient time is allocated to critical processes like code reviews and testing.

External dependencies. Wait times can be heavily influenced by factors outside the control of the development team, such as third-party service availability or client responsiveness. This makes it difficult to use wait time as a standalone metric for assessing team performance or process efficiency.

Variability. Wait times can vary significantly between projects or even within different phases of the same project, depending on the complexity of tasks and the varying loads on resources. This variability can make it challenging to set benchmarks or to use wait time as a comparative metric across different teams or projects.

Metrics related to wait time

Cycle time. Cycle time measures the total time it takes to complete a work item from start to finish. This includes active work time and periods of inactivity, such as wait time. Understanding cycle time in conjunction with wait time provides a more comprehensive view of where efficiencies or improvements can be made within the project lifecycle.

Build time. Build time is a specific component of wait time that measures the duration it takes to compile and prepare the software for deployment or testing. Optimizing build time can directly reduce wait time, enhancing overall productivity and reducing the cycle time for software releases.

Review time. Review time tracks how long it takes for code reviews to be completed. Since this is a significant contributor to wait time, managing and optimizing review processes can lead to substantial reductions in wait time. Efficient review processes ensure that developers spend less time waiting and more time responding to feedback and improving code quality.