This question is written after insight gained from my previous question here: What factors should influence how I determine when to abandon a small project with a friend?. This question is ideally different, and hopefully written in a less subjective manner. Your answers do not need to be dependent on my previous question.
I'm a bit of a pickle and have decided that one of my major options with my current project is to abandon it and move on. There are currently two of use that started programming a game with the intent of using it as a learning exercise, we had a scope, we had an idea of where we wanted it to end. We expected it to take us 4 months or so.
Feature creep set in and 8 months later it's looking like more than a year before completion. I have been having some very serious issues working with my partner, and at this point would rather take my code, take what I've learned, and move on. I'm not interested in completing the project any more, and would only want my code (~10k lines) for the sake of reference and adaptation for future projects.
I have become friends with my teammate, we of course naively made plans for release and to make an LLC so that there was a name to release it under. Obviously I do not want to throw that friendship away with the project. He strongly believes in the project much more than I do, and I am hesitant to single handedly destroy his aspirations for the game. It's our first big project, and we are both understandably attached, I would consider him my friend and do not want to cause him too much grief.
My questions are:
- What approach can I take to abandon this project in such a way that maintains professionalism, as well as my personal integrity.
- If at all possible what methods are commonly used to abandon a project and maintain a healthy relationship with your previous teammate(s).
- If there is a hint of salvagability, what actions would you definitely try first before deciding abandonment is the only available option?