tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post2050187910665241419..comments2024-03-28T15:41:37.170-04:00Comments on Ben's Journal: A Software Lesson from the County Building InspectorBen Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833753747177544979noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-67322206171562064172010-10-20T06:16:09.012-04:002010-10-20T06:16:09.012-04:00>> Just curious, but how often would this be...>> Just curious, but how often would this be challenged when businesses think software is the IP and not wanting outsiders seeing this?<br /><br />Good point. I think companies will always be resistant to opening their doors to outsiders and accepting criticism.<br /><br />>>> And speaking of such, shouldn't this also be applied to the integration of applications and their configurations that make up a solution?<br /><br />Yeah, I could definitely see an inspection need here, too.Ben Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09833753747177544979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-14942732401668542452010-10-19T19:48:14.213-04:002010-10-19T19:48:14.213-04:00Just curious, but how often would this be challeng...Just curious, but how often would this be challenged when businesses think software is the IP and not wanting outsiders seeing this? I guess this is a moot point with all the offshore development going on and NDA's in place? Or are the offshoring just building common components, such as a deck, and not a 102 story skyscrapper?<br /><br />And speaking of such, shouldn't this also be applied to the integration of applications and their configurations that make up a solution? Example: Drupal & postgre (Intranet and Internet Biz Apps; F#$% SharePoint!) married up with Salesforce, Subversion, JDA Supply (SCM, Accounting, etc.), Infor HCM (HR), Hudson-CI, Cisco and F5? Call this the make-up of a 21st Century Supplier Business and certifying their infrastructure for the business structure they run.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-44020539004602349922010-10-19T17:36:02.886-04:002010-10-19T17:36:02.886-04:00This is what standards like Common Criteria (Cross...This is what standards like Common Criteria (Cross government security certifications) are about. There are also ISO standards like ISO9660 which are framework enablers for this kind of work. Organizations such as LogicaCMG sell services in this space.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-70910279847113852112010-10-19T13:47:18.054-04:002010-10-19T13:47:18.054-04:00Wow, I'm impressed I could hit such a nerve wi...Wow, I'm impressed I could hit such a nerve with this post. Apparently, I didn't make it clear enough. Let me try to explain:<br /><br />>> Inspections are what we software developers called iterative development<br /><br />What I was suggesting was that a 3rd party does inspections and has the power to stop the development of a project if it doesn't meet some level of standard. This has nothing to do iterative development. My builder could iterate all he wants, but if the building inspector fails him on an inspection, he has to stop.<br /><br />I wasn't making a comment about how software should be developed (Waterfall vs. XP vs. Scrum vs. ...) I was toying around with the idea of a 3rd party evaluating and blessing a project.<br /><br /><br />>> Isn't this what Code Review is?<br /><br />If the code review was done by an outside party, yes. In all cases I've seen code reviews done, they've been done by someone on or near the team. That's the equivalent of the foreman reviewing the work of his workers. That's key. But not the same as the county inspector coming by.<br /><br />>> Software construction is soooo often compared to civic construction, ...<br /><br />I agree - the analogy is used way too often. On the other hand, I believe metaphors can be borrowed from any field if it helps (architecture being one that was a big hit). If we can learn something from it, then it's worth talking about.<br /><br />Again - all I was noting here was the presence of a 3rd party and the role of universal standards.<br /><br /><br />>> Holy crap, I wish people would go out and read about software development processes before writing things like this. <br /><br />And I wish people, when reading a post that isn't clear to them, would ask intelligent questions instead of assuming the author is a moron.<br /><br />>> Maybe it is a failure of industry and education for not enlightening everyone about common practice but this is common practice<br /><br />Really? What's the name of a 3rd party service that will certify my work as being "to code" - and how many companies use that service? Oh, and how would you define "to code" anyway?<br /><br /><br />>> You really think people that people never reflect on what they are doing?<br /><br />What I was suggesting had nothing to do with reflection. It has to do with a 3rd party sticking their nose in your business and telling you what's what.<br /><br />Look, this could be a totally crappy idea. And I'm cool if this is just written off as a crock pot scheme without any value - just thinking through it was fun. But man, you guys need to all lighten up.Ben Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09833753747177544979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-53226646055714035322010-10-19T12:49:21.286-04:002010-10-19T12:49:21.286-04:00Holy crap, I wish people would go out and read abo...Holy crap, I wish people would go out and read about software development processes before writing things like this. <br /><br />Maybe it is a failure of industry and education for not enlightening everyone about common practice but this is common practice. Do you think people just do requirements and go off in a single-directional Waterfall model style of develop? You really think people that people never reflect on what they are doing?<br /><br />Please go read a pile of books.<br /><br />Software Retrospectives -- meetings after an iteration, reflecting on what happened.<br />Any XP book, I really don't care, just figure out what XP people do.<br />Some random scrum book, at least know what's in scrum.<br />Anything on the unified process, including the wikipedia page.<br />Anything on code inspection.<br />Anything on software development processes, agile or not.<br /><br />Just read something, then you wouldn't have to write this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-8233224614857130182010-10-19T10:43:17.460-04:002010-10-19T10:43:17.460-04:00Hi,
Firstly
Isn't this what Code Review is?
...Hi, <br /><br />Firstly<br />Isn't this what Code Review is?<br /><br />Secondly something you may want to look into that I personally have noticed on this topic on countless other blogs. Software construction is soooo often compared to civic construction, and somehow many are un-aware that it is just as notorious for cancelled, overdue and especially over-budget projects as software is, and it's been around much much longer.<br /><br />It's not software, it's not building. It's just project management. Managing people and complexity is just... well complex.<br /><br />The projects that succeed are nothing to do with the methods used (Planning, Inspections etc...) It's because the methods were applied by hardened veterans who have lots of experience (long trail of failed projects behind them) and can communicate almost telepathically.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12753102.post-2031032696918995452010-10-19T10:22:17.243-04:002010-10-19T10:22:17.243-04:00Inspections are what we software developers called...Inspections are what we software developers called iterative development. That way QA and stakeholders have a chance to see how the project is developing and change direction if it's not correct.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com