The Latest
|
What is Source Control?[article] Sometimes we call it "version control." Sometimes we call it "SCM," which stands for either "software configuration management" or "source code management." Sometimes we call it "source control." I use all these terms interchangeably and make no distinction between them (for now anyway -- configuration management actually carries more advanced connotations I'll discuss later). |
||
|
White Paper: A Discussion on Testing Levels & Bug Regression[article] The goal of this paper is to discuss the levels of our test efforts and bug regression and their outcomes within the span of a project. Developers are better at unit testing as they are closely familiar with the code and testers at system testing as they are better at designing the test settings. Test settings are usually custom designed and fairly unique from place to place. In this paper, the author limits the discussion's specifics to his company's design. |
||
|
A Discussion on Automation Implementation[article] When we discuss test automation we usually spend the bulk of our time and effort discussing pre-requisites, preparation, design, and architecture. This article covers what we probably haven't talked much about: implementing test automation. The author also discusses how to avoid potential pitfalls and unpleasant consequences of a faulty implementation. |
||
|
Infrastructure Envisioning[article] I have seen many Agile projects, particularly those focused on brand-new product lines, struggle with getting their infrastructure up and running. Much of the reason is the time and effort that is needed to get infrastructure established far exceeds the time it takes to start development using an Agile method, effectively the first iteration. Typically the approach used to establish infrastructure is ad hoc and often not always aligned with the needs of the project. Therefore, a task must be identified to establish infrastructure. The question then is, how to best approach the establishment of infrastructure for a project using Agile methods? We do not want to build excessive infrastructure that may constrain us in the future yet we want to establish enough to keep us stable and productive.
|
||
|
Large Scale Continuous Integration[article] The main goal of software is to automate and simplify what would otherwise be accomplished using a manual process. This gives the users of the software leverage to do more with less. Instead of balancing our checkbook by hand, we can use Quicken to do it faster and more accurately. Instead of maintaining the records of millions of people's financial transactions with paper and pencil, banks use mainframes. |
||
|
Agile SCM - Review of 2008 and Predictions for 2009[article] Brad Appleton, Steve Berczuk, and Robert Cowham look back at the world on software configuration management for 2008 and make predictions for 2009. |
||
|
The Events That Will Help Shape the Future of Configuration Management [article] Joe Farah details the events that will help shape the coming year of configuration management (CM) and application lifecycle management (ALM). The CM and ALM industry will prosper as companies look at how they can reduce costs. |
||
|
Open Source Tools Evaluation on Functional Testing[article] Software licensing--licensing is a major part of what open source and free software are all about, and it's one of the most complicated areas of law. This concise guide focuses on offering an in-depth explanation of Open Source functional testing tools, how they compare and interoperate. If you're an open source/free software tester, this book is an absolute necessity, bridging the gap between the open source tool and licensed tool. |
||
 |
Accelerating Agile Development through Software Reuse[article] One of the main attractions of agile methods over traditional heavyweight approaches to software engineering is their ability to accelerate the software development process. By minimizing superfluous activities and artifacts such as models and documentation and focusing developers' efforts on coding, agile methods increase productivity and reduce overall development time. |
|
|
Rules With Multiple Outputs in GNU Make[article] One problem that Makefile writers sometimes have is the need to write a single rule that produces multiple output files in order to accommodate tools that don't fit the standard one-command-one-output model generally assumed by Make. Eric Melski takes a look at a few alternatives, including the one and only way to truly capture the relationship in GNU Make syntax. |
Eric Melski
January 8, 2009 |
|
|
Testing Monte Carlo Algorithmic Systems[article] This article covers the unique challenge in defining testing scope and expected results when testing systems with non-deterministic outputs whose accuracy improves over repeated iterations of the same inputs. A thorough understanding of the algorithms under test and excellent communication between development and testing are essential in test scenario definition and predicting anticipated outcomes. Defining tests and expected behaviors prior to the start of testing is especially crucial in these types of conditions. |
Frank Erdman
January 8, 2009 |
|
|
The Heart of the Argument[article] Arguments and conflicts are a normal part of working life, and good leaders must learn to handle professional disagreements diplomatically. In this week's column, Payson Hall explains some productive approaches to negotiating among differing points of view. |
||
|
The Value of Configuration Management[article]
Real-World Reasons for Investing in CM: At CM Crossroads, most discussion is about software CM. Many SCM practitioners are looking for help on-line, and SCM tool vendors keep adding more and more features to their products, pushing the envelope of CM. But no matter how far the envelope is pushed, software configuration management will remain a subspecialty of "plain old" configuration management.
|
Austin Hastings
January 4, 2009 |
|
|
Configuring CruiseControl for Continuous Integration Builds[article] Michael Sayko introduces CruiseControl, which enables the implementing CI of Java applications. Using CruiseControl's build loop, dashboard, and build resultsJSP, Michael shows how any Java development team can receive added value through this open source tool. |
Michael Sayko
January 4, 2009 |
|
|
Are Your Pants on Fire, or Do You Suffer from Split Focus?[magazine] Some schedule games—Split Focus and Pants on Fire—are the result of your management not making certain decisions about the project portfolio. Without those decisions, your project has problems. In this column, Johanna Rothman explains what you can do when the problems on your project are caused by your management’s lack of decision making. |
Pages
CMCrossroads is a TechWell community.
Through conferences, training, consulting, and online resources, TechWell helps you develop and deliver great software every day.