Video interviews from Software Craftsman 2010

Gael Fraiteur of Sharpcrafters recorded some interviews at the Software Craftsmen conference a couple of weeks ago. The interviewees include Ben Hall, Jason Gorman, Sandro Mancuso, Zi Makki and myself. They are all up on Youtube

October 22, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

I am speaking at NEBytes in November on Mocking with Typemock Isolator

On the 17th of November I will be speaking in Newcastle at the NEBytes user group on the subject ‘Using Typemock Isolator to enable testing of both well designed code and nasty legacy systems’. NEBytes meetings have an interesting format of a developer and an IT Pro talk at each meeting. The IT Pro session in November is to be given by another member of Black Marble staff, Rik Hepworth, and is on Sharepoint I think. ...

October 19, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

I am speaking at NEBytes in November on Mocking with Typemock Isolator

On the 17th of November I will be speaking in Newcastle at the NEBytes user group on the subject ‘Using Typemock Isolator to enable testing of both well designed code and nasty legacy systems’. NEBytes meetings have an interesting format of a developer and an IT Pro talk at each meeting. The IT Pro session in November is to be given by another member of Black Marble staff, Rik Hepworth, and is on Sharepoint I think. ...

October 19, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Should I buy a Kindle?

I have always read a lot of novels, and I like to have a book with me for those unexpected moments when I get a chance to read. Of late this has meant I use the Microsoft Reader on my phone. It is not too bad an experience, using Project Gutenberg I can get a book (fiddle a bit in Word) and export to the Reader format. However I would like a slicker experience and be able to read new releases, so the Kindle seems just the job. ...

October 19, 2010 · 3 min · Richard Fennell

Do you work with C++? Typemock Isolator++ webinar

I don’t work with C++, but if you do you might be interested in Typemock’s free webinar this Thursday (21st October) on Isolator++. It will cover: The basic API design principles of Isolator++ (from AAA to recursive fakes, loose fakes, sticky behaviour etc..) What can Isolator++ do that others can’t? Code examples using Google Test framework and Isolator++, to test nasty untestable C++ code And as it is being given by Roy Osherove, possibly a short song, suitable for the occasion, performed live. Also as an added incentive Typemock, in honor of the first release of Isolator++, Typemock are giving away a free Isolator++ license to all webinar attendees . ...

October 19, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

All our futures behind us?

I had a strangely thought provoking weekend, I took my son to do the tour of Concorde at Manchester Airport, and whilst in the area popped into Jodrell Bank to look at the Radio Telescope and the arboretum. Two great technological achievement, well worth a visit, but I felt both seemed to be in our past. I remember Concorde, I remember Apollo (just) and I remember sitting in a room at school to watch the first Shuttle launch, but where is the equivalent today? I started to feel that this ‘thrusting to the future’ style of project no longer exists; there seem to be few children saying ‘I want to be an engineer’ or ‘an astronaut’. I fear they are too often now saying ‘I just want to be famous’. ...

October 18, 2010 · 3 min · Richard Fennell

ALM Rangers ship SCOM Management pack for TFS2010

Want to monitor the health of your TFS system? Then wait no longer, the ALM Rangers have just shipped a SCOM Management pack for Visual Studio 2010. The management pack provides availability and configuration monitoring, performance data collection, and default thresholds. So if you use any SKU of SCOM 2007 and TFS 2010 why not download it and have a look.

October 15, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Leeds Hack Day 2010 registration open

To quote their site…. Leeds Hack is a 24 hour hack day in the city of Leeds (surprise!). 100+ people in a room – Feed them, water them, take them out for walks every now and them and let them create some amazing things. Best of all… It’s free.. For more details have a look at http://leedshack.com/

October 14, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Speaking at the Developer Group on Typemock Isolator on the 20th of October

The detailed agenda for the Developer Group Meeting on the 20th of October in London has been published. I am speaking in the afternoon on ‘Using Typemock Isolator to enable testing of both well designed code and nasty legacy systems’ Hope to see you there

October 7, 2010 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Thoughts on the Software Craftsmanship 2010

I have reached my hotel after the days events at Software Craftsmanship 2010 at Bletchley Park and got a chance to write up my thoughts. I had planned to Tweet during the day, but just never got round to it, too busy. So how was the event? I have to say I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as last year’s event. That is not to say this was not a good event, but this years seemed to focus on hands on programming tasks. This is great but I always feel that I could have been doing this at home, or in a dojo session in the office (not that I do this oftan enough). Last year the sessions were more Randori Kata format and the group discussion this engendered I found very useful. I think conferences like this are probably at their best when they open your mind to new technique and ideas; yes coding kata can do this, but I feel that a conference needs to focus on the meta level of ‘why do this kata’ and how to ‘best run a kata’ and leave the actual kata sessions to usergroups meetings. ...

October 7, 2010 · 2 min · Richard Fennell