Quality through the lens of Astrophysics

Adam Goucher

Astrophysics

The branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects as well as their interactions.

Quality

Value to some person that matters through their relationship with our software or service

The Celestial Bodies

Quality-centrism

The object at the centre of the solar system controls everything around it•Geo•Helio•Quality

Everything revolves around Quality

The Golden Copy

•Everything of Value is version controlled•If it is not of Value, why is it produced?•Email is a not a document management solution

Developer Tests

•Test Driven Development (TDD)•Evolutionary design•Ensure testability

•Regression security blanket•Fast! No disk, no database

Continuous Integration

•Thou shalt not break the build•Dynamic Tests•Unit•Functional

•Static Tests•Bug patterns•Conventions

•System of Record

Functional Testing

•Manual•Mindmaps•Checklists•Exploration

•Automated•Selenium

•Integration•Performance

Monitoring

•Intelligent log monitoring•System heartbeat•Host environment

Support

Client relationships do not end at launch

Be:•Proactive•Ongoing•Timely

Small Solar System Bodies

Awesome Organizations...

•Do one thing really well•Care•Are trustworthy•Are joyful

People...

•Have the right skills•That are kept up to date•Are doing the right things

The Physics(or the glue that holds everything together)

Communication

•Honest•Open•External•Internal

Timeboxes

•Deliver Quickly•Deliver Often•Short(ish) since we can’t predict the future•Have a clear definition of Done•Constant stream of Value

Technical Debt

•Debt is a tool•Use it wisely•Eventually it needs to be paid back

Realistic Expectations

•Bug free software is a myth•Just because all the tests pass, doesn’t mean all the bugs have been found•100% coverage does not mean 100% tested

Data That Is

•Accurate•Timely•Relevant

Background photo by anastaza1a (http://www.flickr.com/photos/madomaratzki/2111541354/)