Better Software Magazine Archive:

July/Aug 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

Bridging the Gap Between Disciplines: Software Testing and UX Design
By Brian Marick
Jeff Patton

Two industry experts from very different worlds walk you through a Eureka! moment. Get their thoughts on how to build a strong, successful collaborative effort between two distinct disciplines—software testing and user experience (UX) design.

The Power of Predictability
By Linda Hayes

Turn to The Last Word, where software professionals who care about quality give you their opinions on hot topics. This month, Linda Hayes details why being able to predict the end state of your data at the beginning of a test is vital to achieving accurate results.

A Look at Subversion 1.2
By Mike Mason

Need to get the scoop on the latest software tests and trends? You've come to the right place. Get one reviewer's opinion of Subversion 1.2.

The Dark Side of Multitasking
By Mike Cohn

We're pleased to bring you technical editors who are well respected in their fields. Get their take on everything that relates to the industry, technically speaking. In this issue, Mike Cohn discusses the myth of multitasking and how trying to work on too many tasks at once can actually kill productivity.

The Whole Is a Sum of Its Parts
By Jutta Eckstein

Managing large teams adds up to a headache, especially when it comes to Agile projects. Learn how to successfully divide over-sized teams into Agile subteams—from a practitioner who literally wrote the book on the subject.

I Do Not Want a Bug Report
By Jason Yip

Building relationships is important because trust allows us to share information more freely. In his article, Jason Yip explains why he'd rather have a face-to-face conversation about bugs instead of relying solely on a traditional bug report.

The Cream of the Crop
By Simon P. Chappell

Reuse is one of the rare things in our industry that everyone agrees is necessary. But as an industry, we are pretty bad at it. Welcome to the world of pragmatic software reuse. On your current project, follow the steps outlined in this article to create and deliver truly useful libraries of reusable components.

The Tale of the Too-Talented Techie
By Peter Clark

Every manager has a story to tell. Find out how one management professional tackles a fictional dilemma. The story may be made up, but the solutions are tried and true. In this installment, Peter Clark spins a yarn of what can happen when a team member's talent goes to his head.

Reduce Stress, Write a Test
By Mike Clark

All code is not created equal. Learn from a master of the craft how to spot bad code and mold it into good. This month, Mike Clark explains how writing automated tests can give you confidence to change code fearlessly.

Mission Critical: Visualize, Personalize, Humanize
By Michael Bolton

Connect with an expert to learn how to work smarter and discover new ways to uncover more defects. In this issue, Michael Bolton takes a close look at one of the key skills of Rapid Testing: critical thinking.

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