Rob Smyth

Thursday 10 August 2017

Grow up Java developers - there is space, it exists, and is empty

It seems every day I loose time inserting underscores for spaces and it seems every time to be a Java application .... what is the problem handling spaces?



This one is courtesy of Thoughtwork's GOCD. Come o.n guys ... give me a break ... spaces exist. Get over it.

Kinda related ... why do Java applications usually look and feel like Java applications? Is that an indication of a language/framework or culture attribute?

Thursday 6 April 2017

Violet - A dog's life well lived and loved

Our 5th Airedale 'Violet'' died late last year. She was an awesome dog. From the start Violet had dignity and her own self-worth. An independent dog who, like most Airedales, obeyed when it suited her. But was always loving, if she got a pat!

When Rowan died, and she had a puppy 'Golley' to contend with, she finally to share her toys!

A wonderful dog with self-dignity. At 14 years her arthritis finally got to her (she never liked the cold).




A life well lived with dignity.

Tuesday 21 February 2017

Magnetic buttons for magnetic persons

For the team status/task board you can create custom magnet buttons for team members on Zazzle. You an upload images whatever. I just created a few buttons for me ...






Nice.

Zazzle's navigation is difficult. Look for keywords like 'round', 'magnet', 'custom'.

Team Pit Swarm Hub

Rather than mob programming or pair programming a team may setup a swam hub/desk in its pit for quick / ad-hock swarming. Not pair programming, not mob programming but a setup that allows for something in between.

In my case we have the classic corner desks. Nice for individuals but no so great for teamwork. So add a couple of TVs/monitors (so cheap now), a central team table, a wireless keyboard and mouse and you have a team pit swarm hub/portal.




To swarm a team member can slide to the central desk and remote desktop to their environment appears on the large team TVs/monitors. Now the whole team can discuss / collaborate / swarm. Quick, easy, ad-hock.

When done, close the remote desktop and the monitors return to their team status / virtual wall duties.

A way to turn up the volume on team collaboration? An ad-hock solution? A coaching crucible? An incremental step toward pair programming or mob programming .... dunno.