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It's rare to have this much fun reading a book about software. The ideas are smart, relevant, and fundamental. I can be a better programmer today because of the things I read today.
-Joe Fair |
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I was amazed that these five chapters only take about 160 pages and yet tell you all you need to know about successful projects. I’ve experienced a lot of these problems myself, and so did/do you, ...
-Javaddicts.net |
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With much code, all eyes are shallow
-Jared Richardson |
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(Aug 26)
If you've been keeping up with me on my Twitter account, then you know I've been commuting to Columbus, Ohio from North Carolina each week for the last four months. When I started working at Pillar, the intention was pretty clear to all parties. I was to work in North Carolina and help Pillar expand into another region. Unfortunately, the execution suffered a bit. For a variety of reasons, Pillar wanted me to work in Ohio for this first engagement... not ideal, but I was willing to do it. We agreed that I'd be there for one or two months... that was stretched to six. However, when they started asking if I'd continue to working in Ohio after this engagement, it became clear that working in North Carolina while associated with Pillar wasn't going to happen, so I started talking to several North Carolina companies.
At nearly the same time my former employer, Logos Technology, contacted me to see if I'd be interested in returning. The timing was perfect, and the work will be very similar to what I've been doing recently, and they're very close to my home. It looked like a great match, so I turned in my notice this week, and after one more long commute, I'll be starting at Logos right after Labor Day.
I'm looking forward to attending Agile RTP meetings again. At the last meeting I attended, I was asked what my affiliation was with the group! Since I started the group a few years ago, I think it's a good sign that I've been away too long.
I'll still be speaking at a number of conferences, writing for DZone's Agile Zone, and there are a few books in the pipeline as well. Hopefully, now that I've eliminated my weekly commute, I'll have all sorts of free time.
We'll see how it all works out, but I'm really looking forward to being at home again and catching up with my RTP friends.
Category: Personal
(Jul 19)
There's an Agile conference in Charlotte this Friday called (wait for it!) Southern Fried Agile. (I'll bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?) It'll be a great mix of topics and speakers and is a steal at this price. It's $70 for the entire day.
I'm speaking on Agile Testing Strategies (Defect Driven Testing anyone?), and you can find a complete list of speakers and topics on this page
I'd hoped to do a more complete write-up on the conference, but I've been very busy lately. Let me say that it'll be great chance to hear several excellent speakers (and me!) without breaking the bank.
If you're in the southeastern region, let me encourage to come out! If you're not, let me encourage you to host an event of your own just like this one!
Southern Fried Agile
Have fun!
Category: Agile
(Jun 18)
Here are a few links to my DZone articles that you'll enjoy.
Embrace Your Inner Stupid talks about ongoing learning and humility.
Code Like Kudzu deals with removing obstacles. Probably not the best choice of metaphors. :)
What is Great Software? delves into more than "It compiled. Ship it!
Agile Isn't Latin is a rant about people who invoke Agile to rationalize their laziness.
Exerciese, Good Choices, and DDT is another call to arms on starting today.
Tips and Suggestions for Your First Iteration is exactly what the title would lead you to think.
Software is like Pornography was an intentionally provocative title. If you want to get software right, you've got to show the customer.
And here's a few in a series that revisited the Agile Manifesto.
What's Agile? Individuals and Interactions or Processes and Tools
What's Agile? Working Software or Great Docs?
Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation? Huh??
I never got around to posting on Responding to Change. I guess I owe you one more, then a summary!
Here's my entire list:
Jared on DZone
I'll still post a bit to DZone, but I need to focus blogging at Agile Artisans, and at Pillar Technologies.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Category: Agile
(Jun 18)
I twittered and posted on FaceBook about stepping down and several people have pinged me privately to ask why. There's no big secret in it... I'm staying really, really busy these days. Let me walk you through it.
I'm commuting weekly to Columbus, Ohio. There are no direct flights, so it's 5+ hours on planes, in airports, waiting for thunderstorms to disperse, or it's an 8 hour drive. I've been driving (which is much more fun than small seats in regional jets.)
In Columbus (actually Dublin, Ohio), I'm working with a company that's making the jump from a traditional model to an Agile software process. We're working with developers, testers, support, sales, leadership, and more. It's a very fun and very rewarding engagement, but it's also very involved and requires long hours some days. Agile transformations are hard work, but really fun too.
I've started sketching out a new book... I'm leaning towards a quilting or alchemy metaphor, but it will be a book on how to blend various Agile approaches into a great working process that fits your company.
I've not done a decent job blogging on Agile Artisans in a while...
You get the idea. I'm staying really busy and something had to give... it ended up being DZone. It's a great site and if you're looking for a great platform with an international audience, DZone needs a new Agile Zone Leader. They'll keep you busy (three articles a week!), but it's a great way to force yourself to write.
I'll post another blog entry in a moment with a number of posts to my DZone writing.
Category: Agile
(Jun 18)
I talked to a few friends this week who are at companies who hired them, and told them at the time that they were an "agile shop". But now that it's time to get working, they're being told that we're not agile yet, and it's not the right time. But we're going agile RSN (Real Soon Now.)
At the core of this issue is the same problem that countless other shops encounter. Do we do things the right way today, or do we fall back into old habits? It's easy to sit back and decide to make the right strategic moves, but, when the pressure is on, just fall back into our old habits.
If you really see the value in the core Agile practices, then DO THEM. Today.
People, this is just like exercise. If you wait until you feel like lifting weights, you'll never start. If you take your pain and soreness into account, the aftermath of exercise the next day, then you'll stop exercising and eventually die young.
People, Agile practices really work, but only if you use them. And if you wait for the perfect time, you'll never get started. Look around today. See the pain, the aggrevation, the delays? It's not going to get any better. Your shop is in this shape for a reason.
Find a pain point, pick a practice, and start today.
You're too busy today? Here's a clue for you... tomorrow's going to be just as bad. You've fallen into the trap of the credit card. You're borrowing today, counting on tomorrow being better, on having more money tomorrow. Tomorrow isn't going to be better. It's going to be worse. There will be layoffs, more projects with less people, and more technologies to learn.
Stop whining. Get off your backside, out of your comfort zone, and get started! Today.
Category: Agile
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