vault backup: 2026-04-18 19:02:34

software-based-estimating.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ dg-publish: true
 ## Software Based Estimating vs Estimating Software
 
 This document describes the philosophy of software based estimating as a concept,
-independent of any specific example of [[construction-estimating-software]]
+independent of any specific example of [[construction-estimating-software]].
 
 ## Software Based Estimating vs Manual
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Most estimating manuals treat "software based estimating" as an afterthought,
 when in practice there's no meaningful difference in practice from manual.
 
 * Manual estimation is best done in terms of [[assembly-philosophy#Assemblies|assemblies]] anyway.
-* On-screen takeoff just eliminates a single manual process.
+* On-screen takeoff only eliminates a single manual process.
 * Any estimator trained on Accubid could do the same by hand, the methodology is quite transparent.
 * At what point in Excel automation does manual estimation become software based?
 
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ even to teach the basics of the trade.
 * Spreadsheet software is older than personal computers (LANPAR, 1969; VisiCalc, 1979)
 * Dedicated estimating software has been available longer than most estimators have been in the field. (McCormick, 1979?)
 
+Manual estimation invites inaccuracy and inconsistency,
+and prohibits collaboration and flexibility.
+
 I don't generally accept that dedicated estimating software
 is strictly superior to spreadsheets (see [[estimating-philosophy]]),
 but it usually is for less technical estimators.
-
-Manual estimation invites inaccuracy and inconsistency,
-and prohibits collaboration and flexibility.