Notes on testing, automation, and software craft.
"The reason the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because They managed to spend less money" Sam Vimes, from Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett. The theory goes that richer people can afford a pair of boots that last longer before repair or replacement than poor people, who can… more »
Do you know what a fall guy is? the answer is you. Why? Because when you're told that there is a human in the loop means... there is a you shaped person to blame. So, while you are working harder than ever, using the latest tools money can buy or tokens can build someone has… more »
Alan J. Portis once quipped that: "the best book on programming for the layman is Alice in Wonderland, but that's because it's the best book on anything for the layman". In the same theme, I'd like to suggest an addition to your library, the best non technical book on AI Agents… more »
It's August 1941, during the opening years of WW2, the axis powers had conquered much of mainland Europe and the Allies were desperately trying to limit the capacity of the axis military industrial complex. They did this with little feedback on their success much like some… more »
I was raised in a world full of rules, like all of us, though as I grew up in a military family in and around military bases so maybe a bit more so for me. As a parent myself, rules are at play "no son you can't bang our wooden table with an old hammer". Even the business world… more »
Ever tried to get a teenager to do more chores around the home? For those without this joy in their lives, I’ll let you in on a secret it goes down like a bucket of sick. You can sometimes cajole them, sometimes bribe them and even threaten them (We’ll take away your laptop!)… more »
A nervous tourist, glances back and forth between their phone and the street sign. They then rotate their phone 180 degrees, pauses, blink and frown. The lost traveller, flags a nearby ‘local’ (the passer by has a dog on a lead. “Excuse me…” she squeaks, “How may I get to Tower… more »
The beginning of the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy leads with an alien ship about to destroy the Earth, and the aliens saying we (mankind) should have been more prepared – as a notice had been on display quite clearly – on Alpha Centauri the nearby star system, for 50 years.… more »
When it comes to rolling out updates to large complex banking systems, things can get messy quickly. Of course, the holy grail is to have each subsystem work well independently and to do some form of Pact or contract testing – reducing the complex and painful integration work.… more »
As I write this, my dog is grumpily moving around the room pausing intermittently to give me disappointed looks looks that only my elderly mother could compete with. She (my dog) is annoyed by the robot vacuum cleaner. Its not been run for a while in that room and its making a… more »