Comments on: The secret to productive software development: Creating the Happy Path http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path blogging about life, the universe, and everything tech Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:08:49 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-42350 Anonymous Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:37:41 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-42350 I agree with what you are saying about "fun" being important for productivity, but: (1) RoR, refactoring, or TDD/BDD are not necessarily "fun". TDD/BDD by average developers can produce a large number of brittle tests which make things no fun at all when you need to change existing behavior of an application. Yes, you could whack out those tests and fix them, but then you have to determine what each of them tested to make sure you are testing the same thing. Then the lack of structure, typing, and decent debug logging by most rails/gem/plugin developers (really RoR developers in-general) leads to situations where you can develop some things uberquickly (somewhat fun, but not challenging enough at times) and then get stuck in the mire for days tracking down bugs (no fun!). (2) If you have a crappy work environment (poor accountability, poor organization/process, poor leadership, poor communication, lack of mentoring/training, low morale) it is definitely not "fun", and those things you mentioned won't help. The best course of action then is to find another job you are happy with, but it is difficult to leave in a poor job market and/or when you are getting paid over what is required for the job they want you to do. It would be great if you could reply with what you think on some of these issues. I agree with what you are saying about “fun” being important for productivity, but: (1) RoR, refactoring, or TDD/BDD are not necessarily “fun”. TDD/BDD by average developers can produce a large number of brittle tests which make things no fun at all when you need to change existing behavior of an application. Yes, you could whack out those tests and fix them, but then you have to determine what each of them tested to make sure you are testing the same thing. Then the lack of structure, typing, and decent debug logging by most rails/gem/plugin developers (really RoR developers in-general) leads to situations where you can develop some things uberquickly (somewhat fun, but not challenging enough at times) and then get stuck in the mire for days tracking down bugs (no fun!). (2) If you have a crappy work environment (poor accountability, poor organization/process, poor leadership, poor communication, lack of mentoring/training, low morale) it is definitely not “fun”, and those things you mentioned won’t help. The best course of action then is to find another job you are happy with, but it is difficult to leave in a poor job market and/or when you are getting paid over what is required for the job they want you to do. It would be great if you could reply with what you think on some of these issues.

]]> By: Henry Walts http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41762 Henry Walts Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:52:50 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41762 "Challenge" always needs a right path to make it achieve.You made a brilliant trial to remind people about their right path and hence they know how to achieve their challenges.It is really good one..Thanking you “Challenge” always needs a right path to make it achieve.You made a brilliant trial to remind people about their right path and hence they know how to achieve their challenges.It is really good one..Thanking you

]]> By: Aliens InfoTech http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41641 Aliens InfoTech Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:57:04 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41641 Computers are now invariably used in every area of business. It is being seen as a symbol of pride and if activities are automated it will save the much needed time and energy. Your article highlighted the importance of developing Software for minimizing users intervention. We also understood the various issues associated with software development like portability, reliability, response time etc. Computers are now invariably used in every area of business. It is being seen as a symbol of pride and if activities are automated it will save the much needed time and energy. Your article highlighted the importance of developing Software for minimizing users intervention. We also understood the various issues associated with software development like portability, reliability, response time etc.

]]> By: geeks http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41632 geeks Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:59:58 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41632 Interesting note about the "fun" aspect of development and technology. Haha! I haven't been convinced that it will be more fun to give up my framework in favour of Rails yet. Interesting note about the “fun” aspect of development and technology.

Haha! I haven’t been convinced that it will be more fun to give up my framework in favour of Rails yet.

]]> By: Brad Neuberg http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41591 Brad Neuberg Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:16:19 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41591 I love that you have a picture of Chevy Chase from Caddyshack on here! I grew up on those films.... I love that you have a picture of Chevy Chase from Caddyshack on here! I grew up on those films….

]]> By: @F1LT3R http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41585 @F1LT3R Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:27:40 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41585 Dion... this was so awesome to read! It really resonated with my own experience, making sense of the way I have been feeling about various projects and what I can do to stay on the happy path. I would love to hear more about mapping out the happy path. How do you know ahead of time, where to draw that curve of inspiration and ingenuity? Dion… this was so awesome to read! It really resonated with my own experience, making sense of the way I have been feeling about various projects and what I can do to stay on the happy path.

I would love to hear more about mapping out the happy path. How do you know ahead of time, where to draw that curve of inspiration and ingenuity?

]]> By: wavded http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41584 wavded Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:28:37 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41584 Thanks for the post. Very insightful. I've been up against refactoring a couple of projects and honestly I just shut down mentally because its a "huge" task to wrap my mind around but when you talked about unit tests and small manageable parts, it gave me some hope in getting things done without being the brain bloat. Thanks for the post. Very insightful. I’ve been up against refactoring a couple of projects and honestly I just shut down mentally because its a “huge” task to wrap my mind around but when you talked about unit tests and small manageable parts, it gave me some hope in getting things done without being the brain bloat.

]]> By: dion http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41583 dion Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:47:58 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41583 @Paul, It would be honour to write a quarter of a Steve Yegge post.... in many ways :) @Paul,

It would be honour to write a quarter of a Steve Yegge post…. in many ways :)

]]> By: dion http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41582 dion Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:47:17 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41582 @Joeri, Thanks! I will check out "On Intelligence". @Joeri,

Thanks! I will check out “On Intelligence”.

]]> By: Edwin Khodabakchian http://almaer.com/blog/the-secret-to-productive-software-development-creating-the-happy-path/comment-page-1#comment-41579 Edwin Khodabakchian Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:51:10 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog/?p=2489#comment-41579 Great article with a lot of interesting points. Great article with a lot of interesting points.

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