A vague measurement of time, typically applied to delivery of a software project. It is used sarcastically, to indicate that the product has missed one or several promised delivery dates, and rather than embarrassing themselves by announcing and missing another deadline, the developer is simply saying it will be ready "real
soon now." When someone says a product is due out "real
soon now" chances are they really
don't expect it any time
soon. Also abbreviated as RSN.
First they told us that the product would be
done end of first quarter, then they changed it to late second quarter, and since we're well into the fourth quarter, we can expect to see it
real soon now.