Follow-up to Building a Test Script Environment with C# and IronRuby, pt 1, wherein we change emphasis from coding tests in Ruby to writing them in English (Gherkin) with the help of SpecFlow.

After that October post, I managed to construct a full system/regression test suite for a key data-management application, using the combination of Ruby and C# as described. My team has been able to go through several cycles of…

A co-worker overheard the comment that “agile [software development] is not always a good fit for introverts,” or something along those lines, while listening to a webinar on agile testing. On the surface, it is hard to deny that claim. Right there in the Agile Manifesto we have two obvious yellow or even red flags:

• Individuals and interactions, and
• Customer collaboration

Now jumping over to the Principles, we find two more orange flags:

• Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
• The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.

In a letter dated 2 March 2013, to the Bahá‘ís of Iran, the Universal House of Justice wrote:

In December 2011, I wondered if the opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline project was truly just, given that Americans do not have the same kind of reaction to actual oil spills in places like Brazil and Nigeria, as to the potential for spills in the United States. Since then, I have learned more about the climate impact of tar sands (which admittedly is still not entirely clear),and given more consideration to the justice and ethics. Thus while I still hold to the main points of my previous blog post — we need to focus on reducing energy consumption, and Americans should be equally concerned about ecological impacts of oil production / transport outside the United States — I am now firmly opposed to the construction of this pipeline, and have signed onto Interfaith Power & Light’s letter-writing campaign against the pipeline.

Submitted to the Dallas Morning News today….

Funding for Local Parks Grants needs to join the State Parks program in receiving strong support in this year’s budget. While the State Parks have received a positive boost through a recommendation of additional funding to avoid closures, the Local Parks program looks to be in danger for this budget cycle. That, despite the presence of a dedicated - but under-utilized - funding source in the “Sporting Goods Tax”.

Also see: Op-Ed: Preserve Local Parks Grants , adapted from this essay

Sometimes you need to go back to the basics - including basic technology. In this case, I mean sticky notes. Yes, they are a remarkable form of technology. I like doing everything the digital way. I abhor using paper when not necessary, because of the waste factor. Although I love the idea of note cards for user story development, I’ve been thankful that they are impractical for my development team. But, I think it is time to heed good advice.