The Latest
Keys to Top-Notch Estimates[magazine] If the construction industry estimated projects as poorly as the IT industry does, we would still be living in mud huts. Yet inaccurate project estimates have become the norm in the software industry. Find out how you can turn your estimates into reasonable predictions of project performance. |
||
Is ''Agile'' Distracting You?[magazine] If a process tool or service claims to be agile it must be good, right? Not necessarily. The term "agile" has become abused and, since we don't have a standard dictionary definition, it is open to interpretation. So, let's look beyond the label to what really matters—value. |
||
A Culture of Trust[magazine] So, you've been asked to take over the leadership of a struggling, disconnected team. Now what? Create a culture where the building of trust between team members is fostered, flourishes, and thrives--where people who have not begun to trust each other can discover the possibility. |
Pollyanna Pixton
August 28, 2008 |
|
![]() |
From Here to Acceptance Test-Driven Development[magazine] Acceptance test-driven development (ATDD) means different things to different people based on their experiences—from "It's all about testing" to "It has nothing to do with testing,” and from "TDD, ATDD—it's all the same" to "TDD and ATDD are nothing alike." These nine landmarks will help you navigate ATDD no matter where you are coming from. |
|
![]() |
So, You've Got a Problem: Crafting Remarks and Abstracts for Defect Reports[magazine] Software defect reports are among the most important deliverables to come out of software testing. They are as important as the test plan and will have more impact on the quality of the product than most other deliverables from the software test team. It's worth the effort to learn how to write an effective defect report that conveys the proper message and simplifies the process for everyone. |
Kelly Whitmill
August 28, 2008 |
|
Idioms and Idiosyncrasies[magazine] As programmers, we are not merely engineering drones; we are also artisans. The act of programming involves as much artistry as it does technicality. When we craft great software, we naturally use language idioms help to show the elegance, beauty, and artistry of a piece of code. But sometimes the desire for beautiful idiomatic code can trip us up. |
|
It's in the Way That You Use It[magazine] Rapid testers don't think of test automation merely as something that controls a program and checks for some expected result. Instead, we think of test automation as any use of tools to support testing. With that definition in mind, it may not be the most obvious automation tool that is the most useful. |
||
|
Exit, Stage Left[magazine] Many technology workers are drawn to the industry from seemingly unrelated professions. Don't underestimate the importance of a liberal arts education and general life experiences to the technology field. These workers can bring a lot of value and wisdom to your team. |
|
Product and Project Software Configuration Management (SCM)[article] In this article, the authors discuss how software configuration fits into products and projects, beyond managing and controlling source code and other developer assets. They look at the differences between internal and external products and where project fit into the equation. |
||
The Protective Collective Inertia of Failed IT Projects[article] Most projects do not fail because of bad business cases, poorly defined requirements, or inadequate testing.These are all symptoms that turn up at the project level. Project failures along with failed software process improvement initiatives, reflect a fundamental failure of "tone at the top." Often a Collective Protective Inertia Syndrome and other organizational pathologies control how decisions, including project governance decisions, are made. |
Robert Benjamin
August 18, 2008 |
|
Beyond Continuous Build: Shortening the Development and Test Feedback Loop[article] The author walks you through the details of actually implementing a continuous quality automation infrastructure. He builds up an example that addresses both the key principles and feedback cycles. |
||
Receptiveness to Change[article] Everyone responds to change differently, whether managers know this or not. A good leader knows this, and doesn't hurt the morale of a team by expecting them to act a way that their incapable of, or that feels unnatural to them. Naomi Karten brings this all to light in this article. |
||
How I Came to Value Commercial Build and Deployment Tools[article] Years ago, I learned of commercial tools that automated builds and deployments by executing a combination of command line instructions and scripts. At the time, I questioned the value that these tools could provide. Even though the tools were promoted for build and deployment automation, they did not generate the command line instructions and scripts to actually build and deploy applications. The new tools did not replace existing build tools like Ant and make. Instead, the tools required that their users provide the build and deployment scripts. Surely, I could create one top-level script to build my application and another top-level script to deploy it. Why would I need a commercial framework to run my build and deployment commands and scripts? |
Michael Sayko
August 4, 2008 |
|
The Test Manager's Vade Mecum[article] Testers and test managers who come equipped with their own practices and tools can save time and effort and get a head start on their projects. In this column, test manager and consultant Fiona Charles describes the "go with me" collection she has built over many years and projects to help leverage her varied experience and provide a quick start on new deliverables. |
||
Speaking 101[article]
Video
In this bonus session from the Better Software Conference & EXPO, Lee Copeland speaks about the process of choosing session speakers for Software Quality Engineering conferences and offers some tips to help you down the path toward becoming a better speaker. |