Crossroads NEWS - July 2002
The Human Side of Application Development and SCM
Register at CM Crossroads and win a Handspring Visor
http://www.cmcrossroads.com
* * In this Edition
- Salary Survey: Java Still Hot - Key Keppler - JAVA Pro - Behaviorally Speaking: Defining the Software Development
Life Cycle - Bob Aiello - The Carrot Works Better than the Stick - Matthew K. Johnson - Make your own best practice: The ACME Process - Bridget Pilloud - Avoid Role Name Confusion - Charles Edwards - News and Events - Book of the Month
Read this edition online http://cmcrosroads.com/newsletter/julnews. shtml
* * Editor's Note
Over and over again you hear all the ways to improve the reliability of software applications and the development process. Every one has THE product, solution or process that will do it all. And if you install it or use it, all your problems will go away. I've tried many, used a few, thrown some away and marveled at the complexity of yet more. When asked by an organization about the best way to go about implementing a new tool or process, I sometimes just have to ask a question in return. How do the people that are doing the work feel about your new tools and process? Do you know how your developers use the tools they have today? Are they trained to use them? Are they all happy in their current work environment?
In many organizations, it is as simple as the tail wagging the dog and there are other questions to ask. Does the management in your company set the business goals or is this the responsibility of development? Are all the people in your development teams aware of the business objectives behind the software requirements? Like it or not, it is the role of management set the course, and the role of development to pull on the oars. It is also however the role of management to listen to their technical experts and to make sure that the development teams have the right tools to get the job done. Are those things in the water oars or garden rakes?
Too often we forget that there are many things to consider besides the cost of the software, product features and the process you are trying to implement. We have all heard countless company CEOs state that their number one assets go home every day, but I wonder today how many organizations really recognize this fact or even believe it.
This month we take a look at the human component of application development and focus on some of the factors that we should all consider in addition to the features of each vendors product.
As always we would like your input on the human factors of Application Development. Cast your vote on the subject in our current Crossroads Poll at http://www.cmcrossroads.com or participate in a discussion on the topic in the Community Forums.
Patrick Egan Editor - patrick@catsyscorp.com
* *
Salary Survey: Java Still Hot
Kay Keppler - Editor of JAVA Pro Magazine
Go figure--in a year when the economy dragged, unemployment boomed, cutbacks reigned, and profits soured, Java programmers made more money than ever and worked less to earn it. No wonder they're a happy lot.
The Java programming landscape is quite diverse, but some skill sets pay better than others. Are your skills putting as much money in your pocket as they could be? Read on.
In our 2002 career survey sampled Java programmers' work and compensation and compared it against geography and gender, education and training. The results--starting with total remuneration--were perhaps surprising, given what we've come to expect from a squeezed economy and lowered expectations. Last year, the programmers we surveyed in the United States earned on average $83,000, but this year the average total compensation--salary and benefits--of our sample was $93,500--11% more than last year.
Read the full article online at - http://www.fawcette.com/javapro/2002_06/magazine /f eatures/salarysurvey/
* *
Behaviorally Speaking
Defining the Software Development Life Cycle
Bob Aiello - Contributing Editor
Defining a Software Development LifeCycle (SDLC) can raise many behavioral or "people" related challenges. Any effort to specify how people should work is bound to meet with extensive resistance and even hostility on the part of the developers who must adhere to the development process. Yet it is essential that the successful CM Practitioner create a release process that is repeatable and predictable. Tremendous losses can occur if a major company has production applications that cannot be quickly fixed because they do not have the exact sources and build dependencies safeguarded and available. In this article we would like to look at how to create a useful SDLC that specifies the workflow necessary to support the Software Development Process, especially Release Management.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bajul0 2.shtml
* *
The Carrot Works Better than the Stick
Matthew K. Johnson - Contributing Editor
Can I please see a show of hands on how many configuration managers out there want to yank their hair out by the roots trying to get people to follow your configuration policies and procedures? OK, I see just about everyone has their hand up, all except for the guy in the back row who is probably playing Mine Field on his PDA. You spend a lot of time and putting together Software Configuration Management (SCM) policies and procedures to improve the overall efficiency of your development team just to find your efforts are de-railed when it comes time to get people to follow them. Are your policies really that bad? Possibly, but most often the real problem is good old human nature. People don't like change and don't like to be told what to do.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/mjjul0 2.shtml
* * News and Events
Borland Enterprise Studio 4 for JavaT forms a Complete Java Development Solution in Single Package http://borland.com/news/index.html
MERANT Collage now available. A powerful and easy-to-use enterprise content management solution for application-driven Web sites. http://www.merant.com/PVCS/press/index.html
AccuRev 3.1 includes a new integrated graphical diff and 3-way merge tool, patch-tracking, side-by-side visual image diff, promotion by transaction, new triggers, Forte for Java IDE integration. http://www.accurev.com
Code Co-op 3.3 - A version control solution for individuals and teams that joins developers residing in different locations using only email. http://www.relisoft.com/co_op/index.htm
August 12-15 - Linux World Conference - San Francisco, CA - Moscone Convention Center - http://www.linuxworld.com
August 18-22 - Rational 2002 User Conference - Orlando, Florida - http://www.rational.com/events/ruc/
September 3-6 - Quality Week - San Francisco, CA - http://www.soft.com/QualWeek/QW2002/
October 1-2 - Web Services Development Conference - New York City - Jacob Javits convention Center - http://www.wsdevcon.com
October 13-18 - Starbase annual global user conference. San Diego, CA http://www.starbase.com/events/symposium/
October 20-23 - Telelogic Americas 2002 User Conference -Las Vegas, Nevada - http://www.telelogic.com/news/usergroup/conference s.cfm
* *
Make your own best practice: The ACME Process
Bridget Pilloud - Contributing Editor
Albert Einstein's housekeeper would hang an umbrella on the front door knob, because otherwise he'd walk out in a downpour and not realize it was raining until he was halfway to his office and soaking wet. One of the greatest minds in history, and he didn't have the sense to come in out of the rain.
Working in development is like that. Brilliant, creative people focused on a specific task, oblivious to everything else going on around them. As a configuration manager, your job is to support them, to keep the bigger picture in mind, and often to find better ways for them to work. For whatever reason, if you find yourself tasked with making your development world a better place, there are things you can do to ensure the processes you develop are relevant, timely, and even appreciated.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bpjul0 2.shtml
* *
Avoid Role Name Confusion
Charles Edwards - Contributing Editor
Don't you find it confusing when you go from one company to another and find all sorts of different names for similar roles people play in the IT software development process? I've had heated debates with people only to find we were in violent agreement and it was the use of different terminology that was causing the incorrect interpretation, because we were ultimately both trying to say the same thing. This doesn't only happen with Roles and Activities on projects but with many different terminologies meaning the same thing!
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/cejul0 2.shtml
* *
Book of the Month
Software Release Methodology
by Michael E. Bays
Shows you best practices for every stage of a successful product release. Includes carefully designed, practical solutions that enhance quality, reduce costs, and get you to market faster.
Software release methodology is a field that unifies a number of previously abstract endeavors that occur during software product development. By unifying these abstract endeavors, we provide a more efficient, well-understood path from development to product release. The field focuses on the release activity as the driving force behind all development endeavors.
Purchase or review this book at http://cmcrossroads.com/cgi-bin/links/jump.cgi?ID= 65
* * CM Tool Spotlight
Each month there are 4 development or SCM products reviewed in the Tool Spotlight.
This month we feature: Openmake from Catalyst Systems, Telelogic CM Synergy, MERANT PVCS Content Manager and MKS Source Integrity Enterprise Edition.
Visit the Tool Spotlight at http://www.cmcrossroads.com/toolspot/
* * *
Crossroads News is a monthly newsletter published by CM Crossroads an online community for Software and Configuration Management Professionals. If you would like to sponsor this newsletter or any other CM Crossroads Event, please contact us at sponsor@cmcrossroads.com. If you would like us to include your press release or upcoming event in the News and Events section send an email with the details to cmevents@cmcrossroads.com
Crossroads NEWS - July 2002
A Monthly Publication for SCM Professionals
Register and win a Handspring Visor - http://www.cmcrossroads.com
* * In this Edition
- Salary Survey: Java Still Hot - Key Keppler - JAVA Pro
- Behaviorally Speaking: Defining the Software Development
Life Cycle - Bob Aiello
- The Carrot Works Better than the Stick - Matthew K. Johnson
- Make your own best practice: The ACME Process - Bridget Pilloud
- Avoid Role Name Confusion - Charles Edwards
- News and Events
- Tool Spotlight
- Book of the Month
Read this edition online - http://cmcrosroads.com/newsletter/julnews.shtml
* * * Editor's Note
Over and over again you hear all the ways to improve the reliability of software applications and the development process. Every one has THE product, solution or process that will do it all. And if you install it or use it, all your problems will go away. I've tried many, used a few, thrown some away and marveled at the complexity of yet more. When asked by an organization about the best way to go about implementing a new tool or process, I sometimes just have to ask a question in return. How do the people that are doing the work feel about your new tools and process? Do you know how your developers use the tools they have today? Are they trained to use them? Are they all happy in their current work environment?
In many organizations, it is as simple as the tail wagging the dog and there are other questions to ask. Does the management in your company set the business goals or is this the responsibility of development? Are all the people in your development teams aware of the business objectives behind the software requirements? Like it or not, it is the role of management set the course, and the role of development to pull on the oars. It is also however the role of management to listen to their technical experts and to make sure that the development teams have the right tools to get the job done. Are those things in the water oars or garden rakes?
Too often we forget that there are many things to consider besides the cost of the software, product features and the process you are trying to implement. We have all heard countless company CEOs state that their number one assets go home every day, but I wonder today how many organizations really recognize this fact or even believe it.
This month we take a look at the human component of application development and focus on some of the factors that we should all consider in addition to the features of each vendors product.
As always we would like your input on the human factors of Application Development. Cast your vote on the subject in our current Crossroads Poll at http://www.cmcrossroads.com or participate in a discussion on the topic in the Community Forums.
Patrick Egan - Editor - patrick@catsyscorp.com
* *
Salary Survey: Java Still Hot
Kay Keppler - Editor of JAVA Pro Magazine
Go figure--in a year when the economy dragged, unemployment boomed, cutbacks reigned, and profits soured, Java programmers made more money than ever and worked less to earn it. No wonder they're a happy lot.
The Java programming landscape is quite diverse, but some skill sets pay better than others. Are your skills putting as much money in your pocket as they could be? Read on.
In our 2002 career survey sampled Java programmers' work and compensation and compared it against geography and gender, education and training. The results--starting with total remuneration--were perhaps surprising, given what we've come to expect from a squeezed economy and lowered expectations. Last year, the programmers we surveyed in the United States earned on average $83,000, but this year the average total compensation--salary and benefits--of our sample was $93,500--11% more than last year.
Read the full article online -
http://www.fawcette.com/javapro/2002_06/magazine/f eatures/salarysurvey/default.asp
* *
Behaviorally Speaking
Defining the Software Development Life Cycle
Bob Aiello - Contributing Editor
Defining a Software Development LifeCycle (SDLC) can raise many behavioral or "people" related challenges. Any effort to specify how people should work is bound to meet with extensive resistance and even hostility on the part of the developers who must adhere to the development process. Yet it is essential that the successful CM Practitioner create a release process that is repeatable and predictable. Tremendous losses can occur if a major company has production applications that cannot be quickly fixed because they do not have the exact sources and build dependencies safeguarded and available. In this article we would like to look at how to create a useful SDLC that specifies the workflow necessary to support the Software Development Process, especially Release Management.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bajul0 2.shtml
* *
The Carrot Works Better than the Stick
Matthew K. Johnson - Contributing Editor
Can I please see a show of hands on how many configuration managers out there want to yank their hair out by the roots trying to get people to follow your configuration policies and procedures? OK, I see just about everyone has their hand up, all except for the guy in the back row who is probably playing Mine Field on his PDA. You spend a lot of time and putting together Software Configuration Management (SCM) policies and procedures to improve the overall efficiency of your development team just to find your efforts are de-railed when it comes time to get people to follow them. Are your policies really that bad? Possibly, but most often the real problem is good old human nature. People don't like change and don't like to be told what to do.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/mjjul0 2.shtml
* * News and Events
Borland Enterprise Studio 4 for JavaT forms a Complete Java Development Solution in Single Package http://borland.com/news/index.html
MERANT Collage now available. A powerful and easy-to-use enterprise content management solution for application-driven Web sites. http://www.merant.com/PVCS/press/index.html
AccuRev 3.1 includes a new integrated graphical diff and 3-way merge tool, patch-tracking, side-by-side visual image diff, promotion by transaction, new triggers, Forte for Java IDE integration. http://www.accurev.com
Code Co-op 3.3 - A version control solution for individuals and teams that joins developers residing in different locations using only email. http://www.relisoft.com/co_op/index.htm
August 12-15 - Linux World Conference - San Francisco, CA - Moscone Convention Center - http://www.linuxworld.com
August 18-22 - Rational 2002 User Conference - Orlando, Florida - http://www.rational.com/events/ruc/
September 3-6 - Quality Week - San Francisco, CA -
http://www.soft.com/QualWeek/QW2002/
October 1-2 - Web Services Development Conference - New York City - Jacob Javits convention Center - http://www.wsdevcon.com
October 13-18 - Starbase annual global user conference. San Diego, CA http://www.starbase.com/events/symposium/
October 20-23 - Telelogic Americas 2002 User Conference -Las Vegas, Nevada - http://www.telelogic.com/news/usergroup/conference s.cfm
* *
Make your own best practice: The ACME Process
Bridget Pilloud - Contributing Editor
Albert Einstein's housekeeper would hang an umbrella on the front door knob, because otherwise he'd walk out in a downpour and not realize it was raining until he was halfway to his office and soaking wet. One of the greatest minds in history, and he didn't have the sense to come in out of the rain.
Working in development is like that. Brilliant, creative people focused on a specific task, oblivious to everything else going on around them. As a configuration manager, your job is to support them, to keep the bigger picture in mind, and often to find better ways for them to work. For whatever reason, if you find yourself tasked with making your development world a better place, there are things you can do to ensure the processes you develop are relevant, timely, and even appreciated.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bpjul0 2.shtml
* *
Avoid Role Name Confusion
Charles Edwards - Contributing Editor
Don't you find it confusing when you go from one company to another and find all sorts of different names for similar roles people play in the IT software development process? I've had heated debates with people only to find we were in violent agreement and it was the use of different terminology that was causing the incorrect interpretation, because we were ultimately both trying to say the same thing. This doesn't only happen with Roles and Activities on projects but with many different terminologies meaning the same thing!
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/cejul0 2.shtml
* *
Book of the Month
Software Release Methodology
by Michael E. Bays
Shows you best practices for every stage of a successful product release. Includes carefully designed, practical solutions that enhance quality, reduce costs, and get you to market faster.
Software release methodology is a field that unifies a number of previously abstract endeavors that occur during software product development. By unifying these abstract endeavors, we provide a more efficient, well-understood path from development to product release. The field focuses on the release activity as the driving force behind all development endeavors.
Purchase or review this book at http://cmcrossroads.com/cgi-bin/links/jump.cgi?ID= 65
* * CM Tool Spotlight
Each month there are 4 development or SCM products reviewed in the Tool Spotlight.
This month we feature: Openmake from Catalyst Systems, Telelogic CM Synergy, MERANT PVCS Content Manager and MKS Source Integrity Enterprise Edition.
Visit the Tool Spotlight at http://www.cmcrossroads.com/toolspot/
* *
Crossroads News is a monthly newsletter published by CM Crossroads an online community for Software and Configuration Management Professionals. If you would like to sponsor this newsletter or any other CM Crossroads Event, please contact us at sponsor@cmcrossroads.com. If you would like us to include your press release or upcoming event in the News and Events section send an email with the details to cmevents@cmcrossroads.com
Slashdot Mirror
Crossroads NEWS - July 2002
. shtml
e /f eatures/salarysurvey/
0 2.shtml
0 2.shtml
e s.cfm
0 2.shtml
0 2.shtml
= 65
The Human Side of Application Development and SCM
Register at CM Crossroads and win a Handspring Visor
http://www.cmcrossroads.com
* * In this Edition
- Salary Survey: Java Still Hot - Key Keppler - JAVA Pro
- Behaviorally Speaking: Defining the Software Development
Life Cycle - Bob Aiello
- The Carrot Works Better than the Stick - Matthew K. Johnson
- Make your own best practice: The ACME Process - Bridget Pilloud
- Avoid Role Name Confusion - Charles Edwards
- News and Events
- Book of the Month
Read this edition online
http://cmcrosroads.com/newsletter/julnews
* * Editor's Note
Over and over again you hear all the ways to improve the reliability of software applications and the development process. Every one has THE product, solution or process that will do it all. And if you install it or use it, all your problems will go away. I've tried many, used a few, thrown some away and marveled at the complexity of yet more. When asked by an organization about the best way to go about implementing a new tool or process, I sometimes just have to ask a question in return. How do the people that are doing the work feel about your new tools and process? Do you know how your developers use the tools they have today? Are they trained to use them? Are they all happy in their current work environment?
In many organizations, it is as simple as the tail wagging the dog and there are other questions to ask. Does the management in your company set the business goals or is this the responsibility of development? Are all the people in your development teams aware of the business objectives behind the software requirements? Like it or not, it is the role of management set the course, and the role of development to pull on the oars. It is also however the role of management to listen to their technical experts and to make sure that the development teams have the right tools to get the job done. Are those things in the water oars or garden rakes?
Too often we forget that there are many things to consider besides the cost of the software, product features and the process you are trying to implement. We have all heard countless company CEOs state that their number one assets go home every day, but I wonder today how many organizations really recognize this fact or even believe it.
This month we take a look at the human component of application development and focus on some of the factors that we should all consider in addition to the features of each vendors product.
As always we would like your input on the human factors of Application Development. Cast your vote on the subject in our current Crossroads Poll at http://www.cmcrossroads.com or participate in a discussion on the topic in the Community Forums.
Patrick Egan Editor - patrick@catsyscorp.com
* *
Salary Survey: Java Still Hot
Kay Keppler - Editor of JAVA Pro Magazine
Go figure--in a year when the economy dragged, unemployment boomed, cutbacks reigned, and profits soured, Java programmers made more money than ever and worked less to earn it. No wonder they're a happy lot.
The Java programming landscape is quite diverse, but some skill sets pay better than others. Are your skills putting as much money in your pocket as they could be? Read on.
In our 2002 career survey sampled Java programmers' work and compensation and compared it against geography and gender, education and training. The results--starting with total remuneration--were perhaps surprising, given what we've come to expect from a squeezed economy and lowered expectations. Last year, the programmers we surveyed in the United States earned on average $83,000, but this year the average total compensation--salary and benefits--of our sample was $93,500--11% more than last year.
Read the full article online at -
http://www.fawcette.com/javapro/2002_06/magazin
* *
Behaviorally Speaking
Defining the Software Development Life Cycle
Bob Aiello - Contributing Editor
Defining a Software Development LifeCycle (SDLC) can raise many behavioral or "people" related challenges. Any effort to specify how people should work is bound to meet with extensive resistance and even hostility on the part of the developers who must adhere to the development process. Yet it is essential that the successful CM Practitioner create a release process that is repeatable and predictable. Tremendous losses can occur if a major company has production applications that cannot be quickly fixed because they do not have the exact sources and build dependencies safeguarded and available. In this article we would like to look at how to create a useful SDLC that specifies the workflow necessary to support the Software Development Process, especially Release Management.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bajul
* *
The Carrot Works Better than the Stick
Matthew K. Johnson - Contributing Editor
Can I please see a show of hands on how many configuration managers out there want to yank their hair out by the roots trying to get people to follow your configuration policies and procedures? OK, I see just about everyone has their hand up, all except for the guy in the back row who is probably playing Mine Field on his PDA. You spend a lot of time and putting together Software Configuration Management (SCM) policies and procedures to improve the overall efficiency of your development team just to find your efforts are de-railed when it comes time to get people to follow them. Are your policies really that bad? Possibly, but most often the real problem is good old human nature. People don't like change and don't like to be told what to do.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/mjjul
* * News and Events
Borland Enterprise Studio 4 for JavaT forms a Complete Java Development Solution in Single Package http://borland.com/news/index.html
MERANT Collage now available. A powerful and easy-to-use enterprise content management solution for application-driven Web sites. http://www.merant.com/PVCS/press/index.html
AccuRev 3.1 includes a new integrated graphical diff and 3-way merge tool, patch-tracking, side-by-side visual image diff, promotion by transaction, new triggers, Forte for Java IDE integration. http://www.accurev.com
Code Co-op 3.3 - A version control solution for individuals and teams that joins developers residing in different locations using only email. http://www.relisoft.com/co_op/index.htm
August 12-15 - Linux World Conference - San Francisco, CA - Moscone Convention Center - http://www.linuxworld.com
August 18-22 - Rational 2002 User Conference - Orlando, Florida - http://www.rational.com/events/ruc/
September 3-6 - Quality Week - San Francisco, CA -
http://www.soft.com/QualWeek/QW2002/
October 1-2 - Web Services Development Conference - New York City - Jacob Javits convention Center - http://www.wsdevcon.com
October 13-18 - Starbase annual global user conference. San Diego, CA http://www.starbase.com/events/symposium/
October 20-23 - Telelogic Americas 2002 User Conference -Las Vegas, Nevada - http://www.telelogic.com/news/usergroup/conferenc
* *
Make your own best practice: The ACME Process
Bridget Pilloud - Contributing Editor
Albert Einstein's housekeeper would hang an umbrella on the front door knob, because otherwise he'd walk out in a downpour and not realize it was raining until he was halfway to his office and soaking wet. One of the greatest minds in history, and he didn't have the sense to come in out of the rain.
Working in development is like that. Brilliant, creative people focused on a specific task, oblivious to everything else going on around them. As a configuration manager, your job is to support them, to keep the bigger picture in mind, and often to find better ways for them to work. For whatever reason, if you find yourself tasked with making your development world a better place, there are things you can do to ensure the processes you develop are relevant, timely, and even appreciated.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bpjul
* *
Avoid Role Name Confusion
Charles Edwards - Contributing Editor
Don't you find it confusing when you go from one company to another and find all sorts of different names for similar roles people play in the IT software development process? I've had heated debates with people only to find we were in violent agreement and it was the use of different terminology that was causing the incorrect interpretation, because we were ultimately both trying to say the same thing. This doesn't only happen with Roles and Activities on projects but with many different terminologies meaning the same thing!
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/cejul
* *
Book of the Month
Software Release Methodology
by Michael E. Bays
Shows you best practices for every stage of a successful product release. Includes carefully designed, practical solutions that enhance quality, reduce costs, and get you to market faster.
Software release methodology is a field that unifies a number of previously abstract endeavors that occur during software product development. By unifying these abstract endeavors, we provide a more efficient, well-understood path from development to product release. The field focuses on the release activity as the driving force behind all development endeavors.
Purchase or review this book at http://cmcrossroads.com/cgi-bin/links/jump.cgi?ID
* * CM Tool Spotlight
Each month there are 4 development or SCM products reviewed in the Tool Spotlight.
This month we feature: Openmake from Catalyst Systems, Telelogic CM Synergy, MERANT PVCS Content Manager and MKS Source Integrity Enterprise Edition.
Visit the Tool Spotlight at http://www.cmcrossroads.com/toolspot/
* * *
Crossroads News is a monthly newsletter published by CM Crossroads an online community for Software and Configuration Management Professionals. If you would like to sponsor this newsletter or any other CM Crossroads Event, please contact us at sponsor@cmcrossroads.com. If you would like us to include your press release or upcoming event in the News and Events section send an email with the details to cmevents@cmcrossroads.com
Crossroads NEWS - July 2002 A Monthly Publication for SCM Professionals Register and win a Handspring Visor - http://www.cmcrossroads.com * * In this Edition - Salary Survey: Java Still Hot - Key Keppler - JAVA Pro - Behaviorally Speaking: Defining the Software Development Life Cycle - Bob Aiello - The Carrot Works Better than the Stick - Matthew K. Johnson - Make your own best practice: The ACME Process - Bridget Pilloud - Avoid Role Name Confusion - Charles Edwards - News and Events - Tool Spotlight - Book of the Month Read this edition online - http://cmcrosroads.com/newsletter/julnews.shtml * * * Editor's Note Over and over again you hear all the ways to improve the reliability of software applications and the development process. Every one has THE product, solution or process that will do it all. And if you install it or use it, all your problems will go away. I've tried many, used a few, thrown some away and marveled at the complexity of yet more. When asked by an organization about the best way to go about implementing a new tool or process, I sometimes just have to ask a question in return. How do the people that are doing the work feel about your new tools and process? Do you know how your developers use the tools they have today? Are they trained to use them? Are they all happy in their current work environment? In many organizations, it is as simple as the tail wagging the dog and there are other questions to ask. Does the management in your company set the business goals or is this the responsibility of development? Are all the people in your development teams aware of the business objectives behind the software requirements? Like it or not, it is the role of management set the course, and the role of development to pull on the oars. It is also however the role of management to listen to their technical experts and to make sure that the development teams have the right tools to get the job done. Are those things in the water oars or garden rakes? Too often we forget that there are many things to consider besides the cost of the software, product features and the process you are trying to implement. We have all heard countless company CEOs state that their number one assets go home every day, but I wonder today how many organizations really recognize this fact or even believe it. This month we take a look at the human component of application development and focus on some of the factors that we should all consider in addition to the features of each vendors product. As always we would like your input on the human factors of Application Development. Cast your vote on the subject in our current Crossroads Poll at http://www.cmcrossroads.com or participate in a discussion on the topic in the Community Forums. Patrick Egan - Editor - patrick@catsyscorp.com * * Salary Survey: Java Still Hot Kay Keppler - Editor of JAVA Pro Magazine Go figure--in a year when the economy dragged, unemployment boomed, cutbacks reigned, and profits soured, Java programmers made more money than ever and worked less to earn it. No wonder they're a happy lot. The Java programming landscape is quite diverse, but some skill sets pay better than others. Are your skills putting as much money in your pocket as they could be? Read on. In our 2002 career survey sampled Java programmers' work and compensation and compared it against geography and gender, education and training. The results--starting with total remuneration--were perhaps surprising, given what we've come to expect from a squeezed economy and lowered expectations. Last year, the programmers we surveyed in the United States earned on average $83,000, but this year the average total compensation--salary and benefits--of our sample was $93,500--11% more than last year. Read the full article online - http://www.fawcette.com/javapro/2002_06/magazine/f eatures/salarysurvey/default.asp
* *
Behaviorally Speaking
Defining the Software Development Life Cycle
Bob Aiello - Contributing Editor
Defining a Software Development LifeCycle (SDLC) can raise many behavioral or "people" related challenges. Any effort to specify how people should work is bound to meet with extensive resistance and even hostility on the part of the developers who must adhere to the development process. Yet it is essential that the successful CM Practitioner create a release process that is repeatable and predictable. Tremendous losses can occur if a major company has production applications that cannot be quickly fixed because they do not have the exact sources and build dependencies safeguarded and available. In this article we would like to look at how to create a useful SDLC that specifies the workflow necessary to support the Software Development Process, especially Release Management.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bajul0 2.shtml
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The Carrot Works Better than the Stick
Matthew K. Johnson - Contributing Editor
Can I please see a show of hands on how many configuration managers out there want to yank their hair out by the roots trying to get people to follow your configuration policies and procedures? OK, I see just about everyone has their hand up, all except for the guy in the back row who is probably playing Mine Field on his PDA. You spend a lot of time and putting together Software Configuration Management (SCM) policies and procedures to improve the overall efficiency of your development team just to find your efforts are de-railed when it comes time to get people to follow them. Are your policies really that bad? Possibly, but most often the real problem is good old human nature. People don't like change and don't like to be told what to do.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/mjjul0 2.shtml
* * News and Events
Borland Enterprise Studio 4 for JavaT forms a Complete Java Development Solution in Single Package http://borland.com/news/index.html
MERANT Collage now available. A powerful and easy-to-use enterprise content management solution for application-driven Web sites. http://www.merant.com/PVCS/press/index.html
AccuRev 3.1 includes a new integrated graphical diff and 3-way merge tool, patch-tracking, side-by-side visual image diff, promotion by transaction, new triggers, Forte for Java IDE integration. http://www.accurev.com
Code Co-op 3.3 - A version control solution for individuals and teams that joins developers residing in different locations using only email. http://www.relisoft.com/co_op/index.htm
August 12-15 - Linux World Conference - San Francisco, CA - Moscone Convention Center - http://www.linuxworld.com
August 18-22 - Rational 2002 User Conference - Orlando, Florida - http://www.rational.com/events/ruc/
September 3-6 - Quality Week - San Francisco, CA -
http://www.soft.com/QualWeek/QW2002/
October 1-2 - Web Services Development Conference - New York City - Jacob Javits convention Center - http://www.wsdevcon.com
October 13-18 - Starbase annual global user conference. San Diego, CA http://www.starbase.com/events/symposium/
October 20-23 - Telelogic Americas 2002 User Conference -Las Vegas, Nevada - http://www.telelogic.com/news/usergroup/conference s.cfm
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Make your own best practice: The ACME Process
Bridget Pilloud - Contributing Editor
Albert Einstein's housekeeper would hang an umbrella on the front door knob, because otherwise he'd walk out in a downpour and not realize it was raining until he was halfway to his office and soaking wet. One of the greatest minds in history, and he didn't have the sense to come in out of the rain.
Working in development is like that. Brilliant, creative people focused on a specific task, oblivious to everything else going on around them. As a configuration manager, your job is to support them, to keep the bigger picture in mind, and often to find better ways for them to work. For whatever reason, if you find yourself tasked with making your development world a better place, there are things you can do to ensure the processes you develop are relevant, timely, and even appreciated.
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/bpjul0 2.shtml
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Avoid Role Name Confusion
Charles Edwards - Contributing Editor
Don't you find it confusing when you go from one company to another and find all sorts of different names for similar roles people play in the IT software development process? I've had heated debates with people only to find we were in violent agreement and it was the use of different terminology that was causing the incorrect interpretation, because we were ultimately both trying to say the same thing. This doesn't only happen with Roles and Activities on projects but with many different terminologies meaning the same thing!
Read the full story - http://cmcrossroads.com/newsletter/articles/cejul0 2.shtml
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Book of the Month
Software Release Methodology
by Michael E. Bays
Shows you best practices for every stage of a successful product release. Includes carefully designed, practical solutions that enhance quality, reduce costs, and get you to market faster.
Software release methodology is a field that unifies a number of previously abstract endeavors that occur during software product development. By unifying these abstract endeavors, we provide a more efficient, well-understood path from development to product release. The field focuses on the release activity as the driving force behind all development endeavors.
Purchase or review this book at http://cmcrossroads.com/cgi-bin/links/jump.cgi?ID= 65
* * CM Tool Spotlight
Each month there are 4 development or SCM products reviewed in the Tool Spotlight.
This month we feature: Openmake from Catalyst Systems, Telelogic CM Synergy, MERANT PVCS Content Manager and MKS Source Integrity Enterprise Edition.
Visit the Tool Spotlight at http://www.cmcrossroads.com/toolspot/
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Crossroads News is a monthly newsletter published by CM Crossroads an online community for Software and Configuration Management Professionals. If you would like to sponsor this newsletter or any other CM Crossroads Event, please contact us at sponsor@cmcrossroads.com. If you would like us to include your press release or upcoming event in the News and Events section send an email with the details to cmevents@cmcrossroads.com