[m_eiman]

> software engineers can't estimate how long something will take with any kind of accuracy.

Sure we can, it's always one of:

- A couple of minutes

- Today

- A week or two

- Probably around a month

- I have no idea, could be any of the above or more

[rvense]

At my work "It'll take half a day" has become slang for "I have no idea"

[m_eiman]

My standard reply is "one to two weeks".