From: Edward Sumerfield <esumerfd@...>

Date: May 12, 2011 6:56:24 PM EDT

To: cinci-art@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [cinci-art] Coding Standards Documentation

Reply-To: cinci-art@yahoogroups.com

The key drivers to coding standards on an Agile project are:

-  shared code ownership, so if you have to edit someone else's code you soon get through the tab/no-tab arguments.

-  pair programming as you mention because the conversation is more powerful and adaptable that your out of date doc.

-  communication, as a fundamental ensures that the team is talking about the issues they notice and indentation is always one of them. The coding standards document is also a way to communicate these ideas but the doc should have a self destruct built in of one month. The best documentation is existing code.

-  team room, reenforces communication and brings up complaints about the curly braces often enough that a solution is found.

That is not to say that everyone will follow but there is no solution to that. If a team values coding standards then the team is responsible for policing themselves.

Another cool approach is a pre-checkin hook to auto-format everything.

On Thu, May 12, 2011 at 17:37, Carin <gigasquid@...> wrote:

 

I was poking through a code base and came across an ancient document of Coding Standards. It obviously hadn't been updated in years and was not even close to useful.

So what does Agile have to say about getting everyone on the same coding style, standards for a project. Does the problem go away when you pair and it is passed on by Oral tradition + pairing code review?

I'm looking at teaching a friend's step-grandson how to program. I see there are
a number of kids' programming environments out there.

Have you taught your kids how to program?

What age were they when they started?
Which environment did you choose and why?
What sort of projects/challenges interest(ed) them?
What advice would you give someone who hasn't worked with kids before?

Thanks!

Lari Kirby

Chris Pine's Learn to Program is a good starting point. It uses Ruby.
My (then) 9yo worked through the book on his own, and I answered
occasional questions. After that, we pair-programmed on a simple web
app using TDD. Work on practices and habits (tdd, refactoring,
etc.)—if he's motivated, the technical knowledge will be absorbed.

--
Regards,
John Wilger

On May 20, 2011, at 6:04 PM, "Lari Kirby" <larikirby@...> wrote:

> I'm looking at teaching a friend's step-grandson how to program. I see there
are a number of kids' programming environments out there.
>
> Have you taught your kids how to program?
>
> What age were they when they started?
> Which environment did you choose and why?
> What sort of projects/challenges interest(ed) them?
> What advice would you give someone who hasn't worked with kids before?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Lari Kirby
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe, send an email to:
>   cinci-art-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I'm working on a project that is, very roughly speaking, import a bunch of data
into a central database and then write a web interface for filtering and
extracting it. It is a demo version of a larger such project I hope to work on.
So, Rails seemed like a good choice for the web interface and for managing the
data structure, and Ruby is working for doing the import (since I don't happen
to have an ETL sitting around). The code is here:
https://github.com/laripk/data_proj_demo/tree/step02-import-the-data (well,
that's the current branch).

My question is, How do you do TDD when you don't know what you need to do? I
mean, I guess the short answer is Test After - write the tests once you've poked
around long enough to learn what you're doing, but I'm not even sure how to do
that.

In this case I've got these files I'm importing into my Rails database: so far
I've only gotten geo.dic transformed into my regions table. (Code for the
imports is in tools/ since I'm not iterating far enough to have to re-import
with updated files.) Now that I've successfully done the one import, how do I
write tests to describe/protect what I did? (and I'm using YamlDb so I can get
the data onto production once I get that far, hence the db/data.yml file)

I've encountered this kind of question before, and haven't answered it, for
example, in a previous job I wrote a tool to extract some data out of our
database, send it to a third party web service, and put the return results in
another part of our database. When you don't have a good specification of the
web service, how do you write tests?

Or do these questions sound much easier when you understand mocking? (Can anyone
point me to a good mocking tutorial?)

Lari Kirby

Hi Lari,

This is exactly what a "spike" is for. The idea is that you experiment
in a new problem domain without using a rigourous TDD approach to
building a system (although you might write a few tests to check
assumptions as you investigate.) Once you learn how the pieces fit
together, *then* you throw out the spike code and start the "real"
project, test-driving it from the ground up.

Slightly off the point of your question, have you looked at ruport and
the ActiveWarehouse ETL tools?

--
Regards,

John Wilger

On May 22, 2011, at 8:59 AM, "Lari Kirby" <larikirby@...> wrote:

> I'm working on a project that is, very roughly speaking, import a bunch of
data into a central database and then write a web interface for filtering and
extracting it. It is a demo version of a larger such project I hope to work on.
So, Rails seemed like a good choice for the web interface and for managing the
data structure, and Ruby is working for doing the import (since I don't happen
to have an ETL sitting around). The code is here:
https://github.com/laripk/data_proj_demo/tree/step02-import-the-data (well,
that's the current branch).
>
> My question is, How do you do TDD when you don't know what you need to do? I
mean, I guess the short answer is Test After - write the tests once you've poked
around long enough to learn what you're doing, but I'm not even sure how to do
that.
>
> In this case I've got these files I'm importing into my Rails database: so far
I've only gotten geo.dic transformed into my regions table. (Code for the
imports is in tools/ since I'm not iterating far enough to have to re-import
with updated files.) Now that I've successfully done the one import, how do I
write tests to describe/protect what I did? (and I'm using YamlDb so I can get
the data onto production once I get that far, hence the db/data.yml file)
>
> I've encountered this kind of question before, and haven't answered it, for
example, in a previous job I wrote a tool to extract some data out of our
database, send it to a third party web service, and put the return results in
another part of our database. When you don't have a good specification of the
web service, how do you write tests?
>
> Or do these questions sound much easier when you understand mocking? (Can
anyone point me to a good mocking tutorial?)
>
> Lari Kirby
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe, send an email to:
>   cinci-art-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I've heard of spikes before. I don't know why it never occurred to me that this
was a situation for them.

I had not heard of ActiveWarehouse ETL before. I'll be looking into that more
soon.

Thanks!

Lari Kirby


On May 22, 2011, at 3:55 PM, John Wilger <johnwilger@...> wrote:

> Hi Lari,
>
> This is exactly what a "spike" is for. The idea is that you experiment
> in a new problem domain without using a rigourous TDD approach to
> building a system (although you might write a few tests to check
> assumptions as you investigate.) Once you learn how the pieces fit
> together, *then* you throw out the spike code and start the "real"
> project, test-driving it from the ground up.
>
> Slightly off the point of your question, have you looked at ruport and
> the ActiveWarehouse ETL tools?
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> John Wilger
>
> On May 22, 2011, at 8:59 AM, "Lari Kirby" <larikirby@...> wrote:
>
>> I'm working on a project that is, very roughly speaking, import a bunch of
data into a central database and then write a web interface for filtering and
extracting it. It is a demo version of a larger such project I hope to work on.
So, Rails seemed like a good choice for the web interface and for managing the
data structure, and Ruby is working for doing the import (since I don't happen
to have an ETL sitting around). The code is here:
https://github.com/laripk/data_proj_demo/tree/step02-import-the-data (well,
that's the current branch).
>>
>> My question is, How do you do TDD when you don't know what you need to do? I
mean, I guess the short answer is Test After - write the tests once you've poked
around long enough to learn what you're doing, but I'm not even sure how to do
that.
>>
>> In this case I've got these files I'm importing into my Rails database: so
far I've only gotten geo.dic transformed into my regions table. (Code for the
imports is in tools/ since I'm not iterating far enough to have to re-import
with updated files.) Now that I've successfully done the one import, how do I
write tests to describe/protect what I did? (and I'm using YamlDb so I can get
the data onto production once I get that far, hence the db/data.yml file)
>>
>> I've encountered this kind of question before, and haven't answered it, for
example, in a previous job I wrote a tool to extract some data out of our
database, send it to a third party web service, and put the return results in
another part of our database. When you don't have a good specification of the
web service, how do you write tests?
>>
>> Or do these questions sound much easier when you understand mocking? (Can
anyone point me to a good mocking tutorial?)
>>
>> Lari Kirby
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe, send an email to:
>>  cinci-art-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe, send an email to:
>   cinci-art-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
cinci-art group:

Will you be attending Tuesday 6th June?  Topic: Agile in A Flash

   o Yes, please order me Pizza I'll bring $5
   o Yes, NO pizza for me
   o No
   o Maybe


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Thanks!

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
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Will you be attending Tuesday 6th June?  Topic: Agile in A Flash

   o Yes, please order me Pizza I'll bring $5
   o Yes, NO pizza for me
   o No
   o Maybe


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Thanks!

Heads up for anyone who is interested.  I went last year and it was very
enjoyable.

http://www.cloudcamp.org/cincinnati

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
cinci-art group:

Will you be attending Tuesday 5th July Topic: Jim Weirich on RSpec Given

   o Yes, please order me Pizza I'll bring $5
   o Yes, NO pizza for me
   o No
   o Maybe


To vote, please visit the following web page:
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web site listed above.

Thanks!

My husband wants to take our one car to Columbus tomorrow, and while he could
drop me off near the meeting on the way up, he's planning to stay overnight, so
I'm wondering if anyone would be able to drive me home to Northern Kentucky
after the meeting. We're off the Mt. Zion exit (south side of Florence), so it's
not a short detour if you're a north-sider. (On the other hand, we are close to
the highway.)

Thanks!

Lari Kirby

Well, my husband just took off for his thing in Columbus, so if I'm going to see
the inestimable Jim Weirich speak, I will need a ride in both directions. (I'm
in Florence.)

Thanks!

Lari Kirby


----- Original message -----
From: "Lari Kirby" <larikirby@...>
To: cinci-art@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:36:14 -0400
Subject: [cinci-art] Ride July 5th?

My husband wants to take our one car to Columbus tomorrow, and while he could
drop me off near the meeting on the way up, he's planning to stay overnight, so
I'm wondering if anyone would be able to drive me home to Northern Kentucky
after the meeting. We're off the Mt. Zion exit (south side of Florence), so it's
not a short detour if you're a north-sider. (On the other hand, we are close to
the highway.)

Thanks!

Lari Kirby



------------------------------------

To unsubscribe, send an email to:
    cinci-art-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Groups Links

On Jul 4, 2011, at 10:12 PM, Joe Herbers wrote:

> I'd probably go to see Jim speak on observing paint dry, and I like the drafts
and company at Habanero's (where it's always fun to seat a big group of us).
>
> http://www.meetup.com/TechLife-Cincinnati/events/24090321/

(am having trouble posting this to the list, I hope this goes through)

I've been meaning to post about the meeting, but haven't gotten to it till now.
I'll be talking about making your tests more readable, more like specifications.
I'll talk about my experience using the Given/When/Then framework for RSpec. At
least half the meeting will be group coding on one or more testing Katas
(hopefully using Given/When/Then, but that's up to you).

So, bring your laptop and be prepared to do some pairing.

If you want a preview of the Katas that we will be doing, you can see
http://onestepback.org/vital_testing.  There are six testing Katas on that page,
ranging from simple to difficult.

And most importantly, be prepared to have some fun.

--
-- Jim Weirich
-- jim.weirich@...

I am excited to announce availability of my book "Agile Release Planning" on
Amazon Kindle platform.

Check out, download yourself OR pass on the link to your friends, colleagues,
and everyone in your network!  Just visit Amazon.com and search for "Nimesh
Soni" or click here
http://amzn.com/B004TGTHNM


Don't have Kindle? no worries!. You can download Kindle for PC/Mac/Smart phone
and read the book on any of those devices.

Nimesh Soni
skype: nimesh0308 | twitter: @beyondCSM
"Agile Release Planning" Book: http://amzn.com/B004TGTHNM

P.S: This book will be available on Nook (Barns & Noble) and iBook (Apple/iPad)
format soon. Stay tuned..

"Fundamentally, the JVM gives us something that Ruby can't."

"Switching to Java doesn't imply that we think Ruby is a mistake."… "Small companies should continue probably to go with that route"

Agile Round Table will be taking a summer break in August 2011.
We will NOT have an official meeting on August 2nd.

You may however want to check the mailing list to see if anyone is maybe
interested in an un-official meeting at Habanjaro

A code camp will be held Saturday, October 22nd @ TechColumbus.

What's a code camp? It's a community event (following the Code Camp Manifesto --
see http://www.thedevcommunity.org/CodeCamps/Manifesto.aspx) where developers
learn from their peers. Everyone is welcome to attend and speak.

The Code Camp follows these principles:
by and for the developer community
always free
community-developed material
no fluff – only code
never occur during working hours
Sessions will range from lightning talks to chalk talks to more formal
presentations. There will be a mix of presenters-- some will be experienced
public speakers, some may be making their first-ever public presentation. We
expect to see people from throughout the region and beyond.

For more information, please visit http://columbuscodecamp.com


Potential Presenters

If you have something you're passionate about as a developer, please share it at
the Columbus Code Camp.
Have a php configuration hack you love?
Figured out a better way to debug linux USB drivers?
Found a way to navigate a Windows registry in lisp?
Got a one-liner shell pipeline that you can type by muscle memory?
Have a python pattern you can't live without?
Figured out a better way to count story points with a .NET widget?
Sign up to share it!  Visit http://bit.ly/cmhcc-presentation and tell us what
you'd like to talk about.

For more information, for sponsorship opportunities, or if you just want to help
out, please contact the Columbus Code Camp organizers at cmhcodecamp@....



---
Jeff Frontz, co-organizer
Columbus Code Camp
cmhcodecamp@...
+1 434 262 0213

The Semantic Web and JRuby

The Semantic Web is changing the way we communicate and share data on the
internet and holds the key to exciting new innovations. Come and discover what
the Semantic Web is and it's many benefits. We'll learn about some of the
technologies that enable the Semantic Web (RDF/ SPARQL) and take a look at using
the power of JRuby to access Jena, a prominent Java Open Source Semantic Web
Framework, to do some practical examples

Presented by:
Carin Meier
twitter @carinmeier
http://gigasquidsoftware.com/wordpress/

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
cinci-art group:

Will you be attending Tuesday 6th September on The Semantic Web and JRuby?

   o Yes, please order me Pizza I'll bring $5
   o Yes, but NO pizza for me
   o No
   o Maybe


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cinci-art/surveys?id=2382851

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

All,

There is an exciting event occurring on Sept. 9th. Blake Mizerany,
creator of the Sinatra web framework, and one of the 1st employees of
Heroku, is coming to Cincinnati. On Friday, Sept. 9, he will be
talking about Heroku, Rails, and other technical topics. That will
kick off a 24-hour-long hackathon with cash prizes at the end. Details
on the website:

<http://cincyhackathon.com>

There is a rumor that he will be giving a talk on startups and
entrepreneurship on Thursday, Sept. 8th, at the Brandery downtown, but
that is not yet confirmed.

Hope to see you there.

--
Gerard Sychay | hellogerard@... | 859-802-5513

In a purely functional language, you are forced to write functional code.  However, you can write functional style code in object oriented languages as well.  This talk will cover how to write Ruby in a functional style.  It will also touch on Fibers, the new concurrency feature in Ruby.

If you're *really* interested in AI: http://www.ai-class.com/

Lari Kirby


----- Original message -----
From: "Chris Moore" <cdmwebs@...>
To: cinci-art@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:20:50 -0400
Subject: [cinci-art] Artificial Intelligence

I know Mark expressed interest in this topic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnzlbyTZsQY

Note the monitor stand on the right.