So, we're using Gantt charts, because management wants to see progress in the department...

I don't know yet how I feel about this!

Gantt charts are my favorite way to show management that I have no ability to follow directions.

@RevThwack
You Sir, deserve a beer! 😂🍺

What's wrong with management tools?

@Mayhem93
They're for management... Not us devs!

@GinjaNinja But you're under management otherwise how would you sell your code ? Code doesn't even sell, products do. (well, you can throw services there, but you can go solo for that).

I'm an engineer and I acknowledge how important are time estimates and a good plan/roadmap for the project/product.

Anyone can code and make a "program", but you need some leadership and management skills to make something great.

@Mayhem93
I agree and get 100% what you're saying... I really do!

What is happening though is more a case of management, i.e. our bosses/the business/top knobs, want a tool with which to police us with.

We're all professionals and we know what to do, how to do it, etc. What about we tell you when the product is ready? Now I know what you're thinking... Management will know when the product is ready because we will keep them up to date as we progress, but on our terms - be it weekly or fortnightly demos, or even a "demo/sandbox server" or whatever we deem fit.

Policing us like children though... that's not on! And I'm sure most will agree, you've lost the battle, or perhaps even the war, with a programmer once you don't trust and respect them!

@GinjaNinja it depends a lot on the management, but tracking progress is not necessarily policing.
We track a lot of things at my company, with micro and macro burndown charts, with problem tracking, with red labels on failing tickets. It's not for policing, it's for resolving problems, knowing when a problem happens and call for help, optimize production, give our PO as much visibility as possible on our progress...
It's actually awesome, because we use it as a tool. But it could be nightmare if someone used it to policize us indeed

@GinjaNinja there are quite a few managers who just don't know how to "to do" it. But that's not the general rule. I feel like most of the people here on devRant hate managers all together. I for one can't wait to have a team under my wing. I'm always helpful and understanding of the developer needs since I am one myself atm

@willol it's so frequent that you wind up with a bad manager

I prefer sticky notes

@Mayhem93 I suppose so :/ our don't point is that we don't have managers :)