Better Software Magazine

Better Software Magazine Articles

Speaking Truth to Power: How to Break The Bad News

There comes a time in every software professional's career when telling the truth to someone in power becomes an issue. It can be a difficult situation, but it's far worse to keep silent. Norm Kerth offers some helpful advice on speaking up in ways that are tactful and sincere.

Norm Kerth
X Marks the Test Case: Using Mind Maps For Software Design

If you've run through the standard design approaches and still need that killer test case, try mind maps.

Robert Sabourin's picture Robert Sabourin
More Stress, Less Distress

An overwhelmingly harsh test will expose dramatic vulnerabilities, but stress testing requires sensitivity to the unexpected. In this article, Michael Bolton directs readers out of the automated-testing comfort zone and toward better methods of spotting unanticipated problems.

Michael Bolton's picture Michael Bolton
William Robert Elmendorf: In Memoriam

A look back at the life of Bill Elmendorf.

Richard Bender's picture Richard Bender
Planting Seeds of Software Awareness

Some of the most powerful tools for software developers are now free--a fact which Chris McMahon believes should help bring small businesses and local developers together in the creation of custom software. Read of how he plans to accomplish this on a local level.

Chris McMahon's picture Chris McMahon
The $60 Web-Testing Toolbox

A tester can use a Web browser all day to conduct functional testing, but a browser won’t provide much detail or insight on its own. Learn how to improve your functional Web-testing capabilities on a budget with thes $60 Web-Testing Toolbox.

Brent Strange
Overtime Under Control

Test managers are in the precarious position of being responsible to both the project and the team, but the manager and team know best whether overtime will help or hinder project progress. In this installment of "Management Chronicles," a test manager keeps the concerns of her team in mind when evaluating the need for overtime.

Fiona Charles's picture Fiona Charles
Master of Your Domain

Function testing is easy, according to Michael Bolton, and domain testing is only a little harder--but there are catches. In this column, he offers some tips to help you keep the risks of domain testing under control.

Michael Bolton's picture Michael Bolton
The Power of Persuasion

Twenty years ago, Brian Marick defined a small startup's company process and coding standard in his position as head of quality assurance--and didn't win any popularity points. Looking back, Brian thinks that he and others in charge of process would be more successful using persuasion than using commands.

Brian Marick
The More Things Change ... Revisiting a Software Culture

In 1994, Karl Wiegers published a popular article titled Creating a Software Engineering Culture. More than a decade later, he reviews his fourteen principles on software development to see how they've stood the test of time.
 

Karl E. Wiegers

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