WTF does dev complete mean??

I've noticed a recurring term used by various teams, but it often leaves me wondering about its true significance. The phrase in question arises when teams inquire about the completion status of a task or when they confidently assert that something is "dev complete." Personally, I find it strange how something can be considered "dev complete" without meeting the definition of done.

When scrum teams use this phrase, it sparks the need to do some digging and find out whats driving the use of that status or phrase. My first question would be, do the scrum team really understand who is responsible for getting work to done? Also do the team have a good understanding of how to function as a cross functional Unit.

If the phrase is coming from outside the team, it might indicate a lingering adherence to waterfall methodologies or a lack of knowledge regarding Agile development. Either way, it presents a valuable opportunity to share knowledge.

I would say Dev complete means done .... as in done, finished, tested, reviewed, ready to ship and for some teams shipped ...

Anything in any other status is just " dev incomplete" or "in progress"

To promote better understanding among individuals, we can reframe the status by using phrases like "Ready to be tested" or "Ready for review." The possibilities are endless, but it is crucial that we avoid statements that might mislead people into believing that something is complete when it is not.

Now, why does this distinction truly matter?

Using the language of completion can create a mindset where the responsibility for completing a task is passed from one person to another. Individuals may fall into the trap of thinking, "I've done my job; now it's your turn." However, in a Scrum team, everyone shares collective responsibility for meeting the Definition of Done (DOD). If something remains in progress at the end of a sprint, the conversation should not revolve around it being "dev complete" or any other variation of "complete." Instead, we should ask ourselves if it is still a priority, what actions WE need to take to reach completion, and what lessons we can learn to enhance future performance.