Slashdot Mirror
Organizational Patterns of Agile Software Development
Organizational Patterns of Agile Software Development starts by describing the foundations of the authors' research. There are definitions of a "pattern" (but "your intuition about the meaning of the term will take you far") and of a "pattern language" (read the book), the history of their research, and some information about how the book is laid out. The authors recommend you read this section, and so do I; but if it's too dry for you, by all means move on.
The meat of this book is four pattern languages: how to manage a project, how to grow it over time, what can make up an organization's "style" (I'd use the word "culture"), and how the people fulfill their roles and interact with each other. These are not prescriptions or algorithms; they're elements of how successful organizations have worked.
Each pattern describes one aspect of some effective software development organizations. Some patterns are found in more than one pattern language; "Community of Trust" is common to all. Others are less general; "Moderate Truck Number" applies only to the "piecemeal growth" pattern language.
How valuable are the patterns? Some (such as "Get On With It", proceeding with an effort before the planning is considered complete) are common sense. Others (for example, "Don't Interrupt an Interrupt") are things you probably know, but might need to be reminded of ... or might need to remind your boss of. More than a few (my favorite is "Architect Also Implements") might help you understand how something could or should work. Finally, there are some patterns here (such as the "Day Care" pattern for training new members) that might be new to you.
The rest of the book puts the patterns and pattern languages into perspective. There are chapters on organizational principals and (seriously) anthropological foundations of this work. Then there are two case studies of very successful projects. On one, "[about one] million lines of code were written over a period of 31 months by about eight people (that's about 1,000 lines of code per person per week) -- that doesn't include code in the [two] prototypes." It's easy to crank out code at that rate for small bursts, or on small projects. To stay at that pace constantly for over two and half years is nothing short of astounding. The resulting product was released to great reviews. (It then did poorly in the marketplace when it went head-to-head with a directly competing product from Microsoft. Sound dissatisfying? Consider how very long people waited impatiently for Mozilla and its successors such as Firefox. More directly, look at Robert Glass's assertion of the "disconnect between managers and their programmers" as to what projects are seen as successful; it's Fact 13 in Glass's book reviewed August 30th on Slashdot.)
What's imperfect about this book? A couple of things.
First, sometimes the language gets too academic for easy reading. Example: "We have also seen a lighter though almost equally destructive form of this phenomenon, which we describe as schismogenesis.... Symmetrical schismogenesis occurs when two factions each rise in power (or in fear or distrust of each other) and form cliques or splinter groups that tend to focus inward rather than resolve issues in the dialogue with each other." Clear enough if you work on it, but a little intimidating.
Second, the book is surprisingly partisan on some subjects. The book is not kind either to ISO 9000 or Extreme Programming; it could serve as a sort of litmus test, delighting critics and coming across to supporters as unfairly harsh.
What's good about this book? It's a collection of good information, well presented, with information on how to apply it, on a topic where not much knowledge has been accumulated. For some specific circumstances, this book sometimes points out different likely alternatives, with information on when each is applicable. Don't expect Organizational Patterns for the Complete Dummy; then again, don't expect anything useful to be superficial.
How could Coplien and Harrison's work apply to open source development? For starters, they point out the value of people working physically together, and of individual code ownership; these aren't easily applied to open source, but at least it points out forces that need to be resolved somehow. On the other hand, some patterns here are hugely relevant to open source: "Work Queue," "Informal Labor Plan," "Self-Selecting Team," and "Team Pride" come to mind.
Organizational Patterns of Agile Software Development is no panacea. If your organizational practices are the opposite of what's found to be effective, you may find this book frustrating. A book can't take your organization where it needs to go; but Coplien and Harrison have put up some road signs.
You can purchase Organizational Patterns of Agile Software Development from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
OMFG have you seen the Half-Life 2 trailer it's like slow then the music kicks in and and Gordon comes out and gets a gun and Gordon is like fuck this and HE KILLS ALL THESE GUYS WITH GASMASKS with angels singing and he lands on the bad guys and that annoying alyx lady is like GO GET EM TIGER! SOME RANDOM SCIENTEST IS ON TEH SPOKE!!!~`1 and theres less polys but rawkin bumb mappings you can view this on a special VALVe PC disk that comes with EB games store.
GNAA declares victory over Wikipedia GNAA declares victory over Wikipedia Zeikfried - Associated Press, Nigeria In a week which shall be recorded in Wikipedia infamy (and then vandalized and redirected to clitoris), the oft persecuted and never defeated internet missionaries of the Gay Nigger Association of America struck yet another powerful and telling blow against the powerful forces of bigotry and racism. Most notably, the growing zionist community on renowned internet pissing yard wikipedia.org. And the records have indeed tumbled, with an unheard of third successful survival from the digital shitheap that is "Votes For Deletion". Coming in spite a heinous act of self promotion and cyber terrorism by Pat Gunn/Improv (formerly known as Aharon Meshenstein prior to his infiltration of the United States), who listed and inspired mob vandalism upon the GNAA's entry. Fresh from his promotion of Wikipedia's $50,000 fundraiser for arms and supplies to the Jewish state of Israel, Improv launched a series of unprovoked and slanderous attacks against the well loved organisations leadership, all the while using foul and unholy necromancies to enlist the dead themselves to vote the entries deletion. Names such as "Wolfman" and "Demonslave" only adding to the damning list of evidence linking Mr Gunn to the occult. Though Improv's actions gained him a small majority, a shock last minute intervention from Pope John Paul II spared the pages untimely fate, although as yet unconfirmed reports have indicated that several hundred 8-year old negro children were driven to the Basilica to secure the pontiffs support. Others point towards the black curse cast upon the deletion campaign by the support of infamous Brawl Hall mouthpiece "Yoyo" as the main driving force behind the salvation of the aforementioned entry. But the details are likely to cause few sleepless nights among the group, only one of whom was willing to speak to the press. Namely GNAA Wikipedia contributor Popeye, who interrupted his drawing of pornography to give a brief dismissal the controversy: "Even with Improv's shady dealings, the sheer size and girth of a swollen GNAA phallus enables it both an identity and a vote of it's own. Making such discussion moot". About Wikipedia: Wikipedia, a content-free encyclopedia in many languages, started life in January 2001 and has already risen to the status of the internets premiere "trollpedia". Currently Wikipedia contains 363950 articles, 10032 of which are genuine, and 343 of them factually accurate. Leaving Wikipedia on an academic par with "Star Wars: Incredible Cross-sections: The Ultimate Guide to Star Wars Vehicles and Spacecraft" and "My First Book of Animals from A to Z". About GNAA: GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the first organization which gathers GAY NIGGERS from all over America and abroad for one common goal - being GAY NIGGERS. Are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAY NIGGER? If you answered "Yes" to all of the above questions, then GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) might be exactly what you've been looking for! Join GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) today, and enjoy all the benefits of being a full-time GNAA member. GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the fastest-growing GAY NIGGER community with THOUSANDS of members all over United States of America and the World! You, too, can be a part of GNAA if you join today! Why not? It's quick and easy - only 3 simple steps! First, you have to obtain a copy of GAYNIGGERS FROM OUTER SPACE THE MOVIE and watch it. You can download the movie (~130mb) using BitTorrent. Second, you need to succeed in posting a GNAA First Post on slashdot.org, a popular "news for trolls" website. Third, you need to join the official GNAA irc channel #GNAA on irc.gnaa.us, and apply for membership. Talk to one of the ops or any of the other members in the channel to sign up today! Upon submitting your application, you will be required to submit links to your successful First Post, and you will be tested on yo
MAN GIVEN CRACK COCAINE TO REGISTER VOTERS ARRESTED IN OHIO
Mon Oct 18 2004 13:26:03 ET
October 18, 2004
The Defiance County Sheriff's Office arrested Chad Staton, age 22, of Stratton Ave., Defiance, on a charge of False Registration, in Violation of Section 3599.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, a felony of the fifth degree.
The SheriffÕs Office alleges that Staton filled out over 100 voter registration forms that were fictitious. Staton was to be paid for each registration form that he could get citizens to fill out. However, Staton himself filled out the registrations and returned them to the woman who hired him from Toledo, Ohio. Deputies allege that Staton was paid crack cocaine for the falsified registrations.
Defiance Deputies along with Toledo Police Department detectives conducted a search warrant of a residence on Woodland in Toledo, believed to be the home of the woman who hired Staton to solicit voter registration. Officers confiscated drug paraphernalia along with voter registration forms from the home. The occupant of the home, Georgianne Pitts, age 41, advised law enforcement, along with Ohio B.C.I.&I., that she had been recruited by Thaddeus J. Jackson, II, of Cleveland, to obtain voter registrations. Pitts admitted to paying Staton crack cocaine for the registrations in lieu of money.
A business card provided by Pitts indicated that Jackson is the Assistant NVF Ohio Director of the NAACP National Voter Fund.
The initial complaint received by the Sheriff's Office came from the Defiance County Board of Elections. The Board had received the 100 plus registration forms from the Cuyahoga Board of Elections that had been submitted to the Cuyahoga Board by the NAACP National Voter Fund.
BUT IT"S THE REPUBLCIANS THAT CHEAT _ REMEMBER THAT AND IF YOU REPEAT IT ENOUGH YOU WILL START TO ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT!
MAN GIVEN CRACK COCAINE TO REGISTER VOTERS ARRESTED IN OHIO
Mon Oct 18 2004 13:26:03 ET
October 18, 2004
The Defiance County Sheriff's Office arrested Chad Staton, age 22, of Stratton Ave., Defiance, on a charge of False Registration, in Violation of Section 3599.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, a felony of the fifth degree.
The SheriffÕs Office alleges that Staton filled out over 100 voter registration forms that were fictitious. Staton was to be paid for each registration form that he could get citizens to fill out. However, Staton himself filled out the registrations and returned them to the woman who hired him from Toledo, Ohio. Deputies allege that Staton was paid crack cocaine for the falsified registrations.
Defiance Deputies along with Toledo Police Department detectives conducted a search warrant of a residence on Woodland in Toledo, believed to be the home of the woman who hired Staton to solicit voter registration. Officers confiscated drug paraphernalia along with voter registration forms from the home. The occupant of the home, Georgianne Pitts, age 41, advised law enforcement, along with Ohio B.C.I.&I., that she had been recruited by Thaddeus J. Jackson, II, of Cleveland, to obtain voter registrations. Pitts admitted to paying Staton crack cocaine for the registrations in lieu of money.
A business card provided by Pitts indicated that Jackson is the Assistant NVF Ohio Director of the NAACP National Voter Fund.
The initial complaint received by the Sheriff's Office came from the Defiance County Board of Elections. The Board had received the 100 plus registration forms from the Cuyahoga Board of Elections that had been submitted to the Cuyahoga Board by the NAACP National Voter Fund.
BUT IT"S THE REPUBLCIANS THAT CHEAT _ REMEMBER THAT AND IF YOU REPEAT IT ENOUGH YOU WILL START TO ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT!
It amazes me that so many allegedly "educated" people have fallen so quickly and so hard for a fraudulent fabrication of such laughable proportions. The very idea that a gigantic ball of rock happens to orbit our planet, showing itself in neat, four-week cycles -- with the same side facing us all the time -- is ludicrous. Furthermore, it is an insult to common sense and a damnable affront to intellectual honesty and integrity. That people actually believe it is evidence that the liberals have wrested the last vestiges of control of our public school system from decent, God-fearing Americans (as if any further evidence was needed! Daddy's Roommate? God Almighty!) .45 and a .38 Special! And when they detect you with a firearm, their computers cross-reference the address to figure out your name, and then an enormous database housed at Berkeley is updated with information about you.
Documentaries such as Enemy of the State have accurately portrayed the elaborate, Byzantine network of surveillance satellites that the liberals have sent into space to spy on law-abiding Americans. Equipped with technology developed by Handgun Control, Inc., these satellites have the ability to detect firearms from hundreds of kilometers up. That's right, neighbors... the next time you're out in the backyard exercising your Second Amendment rights, the liberals will see it! These satellites are sensitive enough to tell the difference between a Colt
Of course, this all works fine during the day, but what about at night? Even the liberals can't control the rotation of the Earth to prevent nightfall from setting in (only Joshua was able to ask for that particular favor!) That's where the "moon" comes in. Powered by nuclear reactors, the "moon" is nothing more than an enormous balloon, emitting trillions of candlepower of gun-revealing light. Piloted by key members of the liberal community, the "moon" is strategically moved across the country, pointing out those who dare to make use of their God-given rights at night!
Yes, I know this probably sounds paranoid and preposterous, but consider this. Despite what the revisionist historians tell you, there is no mention of the "moon" anywhere in literature or historical documents -- anywhere -- before 1950. That is when it was initially launched. When President Josef Kennedy, at the State of the Union address, proclaimed, "We choose to go to the moon", he may as well have said "We choose to go to the weather balloon." The subsequent faking of a "moon" landing on national TV was the first step in a long history of the erosion of our constitutional rights by leftists in this country. No longer can we hide from our government when the sun goes down.
e. l33t haxorr sk311z. Simple. l33t haxorr sk311z. Simple.Click Here
i mple. l33t haxorr sk311z.
What makes a software development project succeed?
What makes a software development project succeed? (Score:0, Offtopic)
by GillBates0 (664202) Alter Relationship on Monday October 18, @04:09PM (#10559393)
(http://slashdot.org/~GillBates0)
S
[ Reply to This ]
Preview Comment
Re:What makes a software development project succe (Score:?)
by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 18, @04:11PM
e. l33t haxorr sk311z. Simple. l33t haxorr sk311z. Simple.
Post Comment
Subject
Comment
(Use the Preview Button! Check those URLs!)
No Karma Bonus Post Anonymously
Allowed HTML
URLs http://example.com/ will auto-link a URL
Important Stuff
# Please try to keep posts on topic.
# Try to reply to other people's comments instead of starting new threads.
# Read other people's messages before posting your own to avoid simply duplicating what has already been said.
# Use a clear subject that describes what your message is about.
# Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated. (You can read everything, even moderated posts, by adjusting your threshold on the User Preferences Page)
Problems regarding accounts or comment posting should be sent to CowboyNeal.
In Christianity, a man may have only one wife. This is called Monotony.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2004 OSTG.
Linux.com--Linux news, downloads and product reviews.
[ home | awards | contribute story | older articles | OSTG | advertise | about | terms of service | privacy | faq | rss ]
Wow - is no one going to post anything for real? This is amazing. A first for slashdot?
I've just signed legislation that'll outlaw Russia forever. We'll begin bombing in five minutes.