Better Software - May 2008 - (Page 3)

May 2008 Volume 10, Issue 4 Cover Story IT’S A BUG! 26 Bug triage, like labor and delivery triage, is about deciding a course of action on the spot, often with minimal information to guide decision making. Discover what other lessons Robert has learned from Anne’s experience in nursing that have practical applications in his hunt for bugs. by Robert Sabourin and Anne Sabourin Features THE CHIVALROUS TEAM MEMBER 32 Using the ten virtues described in Brian Price’s modern code of chivalry, Martin and Mike illustrate the similarities between the best performing software team members of today and the Knights of the Round Table. by Martin Kearns and Mike Cohn LET’S TALK AGILE 38 Agile development employs more oral communication, feedback, and interaction than traditional development. These communication tools can help ease the transition into the more interactive agile team relationship. by Ken Pugh Columns & Departments In Every Issue Mark Your Calendar 4 Contributors 6 eLightenment 8 Product Announcements 44 10 Things You Might Not Know About … 46 Ad Index 48 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 13 What’s the Deal with Investigators? • by Lee Copeland “Investigators aren’t sure” is a phrase that frequently pops up in the media. Information systems workers seem to share this uncertainty. So, what’s the secret to success in this “aren’t sure” world? CODE CRAFT 17 The Accidental Complexity of Logic • by Kevlin Henney Much code complexity and no small number of program defects can be traced back to confusion over logical expressions and the expression of logic. Find out how you can get that complexity under control. TEST CONNECTION 20 Out of the Rut • by Michael Bolton Do you feel as if all you do is repeat heavily scripted tests and as a result you aren’t learning, discovering new problems, or finding bugs? These nine heuristics can help you get out of your rut and take back control of your testing process. MANAGEMENT CHRONICLES 22 Communicate, Don’t Assimilate • by Melissa Sienkiewicz Opening an offshore office can be a tricky situation. Learn how to spread corporate values and processes to your new team members by working together instead of forcing them to adopt your way of thinking. Better Software magazine—The print companion to StickyMinds.com brings you the hands-on, knowledgebuilding information you need to run smarter projects and deliver better products that win in the marketplace and positively affect the bottom line. Subscribe today to get ten issues. Visit www.BetterSoftware.com or call 800.450.7854. THE LAST WORD 47 When to Step Up, When to Step Back • by Pollyanna Pixton It can be difficult to know when your team needs your help or when it needs more time to work out its own solution. How do you decide when to get involved? StickyMinds.com We invite you to visit StickyMinds.com, the online companion to Better Software magazine. StickyMinds.com covers the same pertinent topics as the magazine, putting the power of information at the click of your mouse. Weekly columns, headline-making bugs, hundreds of technical papers, an online tools guide, discussion boards, and so much more make StickyMinds.com your site for 24/7 brainfood to help you build better software. www.StickyMinds.com MAY 2008 BETTER SOFTWARE 3 http://www.BetterSoftware.com http://StickyMinds.com http://StickyMinds.com http://StickyMinds.com http://StickyMinds.com http://www.BetterSoftware.com http://StickyMinds.com http://www.StickyMinds.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Better Software - May 2008

Better Software - May 2008 Contents Mark Your Calendar Contributors eLightenment Technically Speaking Code Craft Test Connection Management Chronicles Cover Story: It's A Bug! The Chivalrous Team Member Let's Talk Agile Product Announcements 10 Things You Might Not Know About... The Last Word Ad Index

Better Software - May 2008

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