Slashdot Mirror
Pushing the Need for Bug Tracking?
NorthwestWolf asks: "I am the sole developer for a medium-sized company. My work consists of developing intranet applications for the production, accounting, shipping and engineering activities at all of our locations. My dilema is that my boss is dead set on the idea that we DO NOT need a bug tracking system, nor does he feel that we have a need for version tracking. As much as I strive to write perfect code...that doesn't happen. Most recently, I asked to install a lightweight piece of bug tracking software that would not tie into the database, and was written in PHP (what our apps are already developed in). This was to be for me, and me alone; although my boss does produce some code and is the reason that I would like version tracking (he has made changes to my code that I was not aware of until I noticed problems with certain functions). So, to those of you who are, or have been in a similiar situation...what are you doing, or what have you done to get critical development tools such as these implemented at work?"
...is to smile politely when they say stupid things, and then deal. I would suggest that you call your bug tracking system a "todo list" and keep a copy of the code in CVS. Produce your changes out of the CVS repository. Periodically compare what's in the head of your CVS to what's deployed, and _always_ compare before you overwrite anything that's deployed from your copy. That way you get what you want, and your boss doesn't have to deal with it. Don't tell him you have it under version control - just take advantage of the fact that you do.
You can see that the stereotype of slashdotters living in their mother's basements until they are 35 isn't too far off the mark by all the comments here. Every other reply is "Quit. You are smart and he is dumb. Just quit." That's easy to say when no one is depending on you. It's another thing entirely if you have a wife and kids to support. I know this is difficult for some of you, but just picture what it might be like if you actually had someone (other than your mother) who cares about you:
Loving wife: "Hi Honey. How was your day?"
Slashdotter: "I quit my job."
LW: What? Why? Whatever for?
S: The boss wouldn't let me install Subversion.
LW (pausing for a few seconds in disbelief): Honey, I don't know what a Subversion is but I do know that Jenny's orthodontics bill came in the mail today and that the mortgage payment is due next week. You need to go down there and tell them it was all a big mistake and that you'd like your job back. Our family is depending on you!
S: Hey, the guy's an idiot. It's not enough that the boss chews me out for reading Slashdot at work, you've gotta get on my case too? I'm going to play Unreal Tournament. Just leave me alone for awhile.
LW: Mother was right. I should have married Dirk instead!
Guys, enough of this sorry "If you can't have everything you way you want it, then quit" crap. This guy needs some real advice.