Using metrics like flog can be immensely helpful for cleaning up code. However, metrics are fallible, and flog is no exception.

During a session of some serious code refactoring, flog was returning high scores on a couple of methods that appeared to be relatively clean, and the main culprit for the scores was something... Continue reading »

This year, SXSW is premiering a new film, Kick-ass. If it sounds familiar, it's because it is based off a comic book of the same name.

This matters because it's another comic book in a long line of comic books that are being turned into artistically good and financially successful movies. There are so many of them, a whole... Continue reading »

Simplicity -- the art of maximizing the amount of work not done -- is essential.

This principle should be obvious enough. All you need to know is KISS: keep it simple, sucka! That's all. How complex can simple be?

Very.

Let's take the darling of the phone industry -- the iPhone. When it came on the scene, it was a game changer. So much functionality... Continue reading »

Continuous attention to technical excellence & good design increases agility

To discuss this topic, we've got to start with an explanation of what "technical excellence" means. Technical excellence means maximizing technical value, which is distinct from business value.

When I say "business value," I mean things that fall squarely in the category of being immediately and directly valuable to the business. This includes:

• working... Continue reading »

Dell Computer is giving $50,000 to help a great student-led team of entrepreneurs who want to change the world. If you've got a great idea for an internet startup, here's a great chance to get some money and publicity. There's only 25 days left to get signed up, so check it out today! http://www.dellsocialinnovationcompetition.com/

Ever find yourself deep in some code, wishing that you could figure out if a gem was installed, without trying to call against it and deal with the ensuing nastyness? Here's how:

Thanks to rubygems-sing for the simple implementation.

The 8th principle of the Agile Manifesto is

Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

At a previous employer, I remember a coworker of mine. Let's call him M.

M was a good guy, capable, and hard-working. He always put in what was required, and often more. On one particular project, there was... Continue reading »