Test & Code

Software development processes create value, and have waste, in the Lean sense of the word waste.
Lean manufacturing and lean software development changed the way we look at value and waste.
This episode looks at lean definitions of waste, so we can see it clearly when we encounter it.

I'm going to use the term waste and value in future episodes. I'm using waste in a Lean sense, so we can look at software processes critically, see the value chain, and try to reduce waste.

Lean manufacturing and lean software development caused people to talk about and examine waste and value, even in fields where we didn't really think about waste that much to begin with.

Software is just ones and zeros. Is there waste?
When I delete a file, nothing goes into the landfill.

The mistake I'm making here is confusing the common English definition of waste when what we're talking about is the Lean definition of waste.

This episode tries to clear up the confusion.

Full Transcript

Links:

• Big Design Up Front
• Lightweight Methodologies
• Manifesto for Agile Software Development
• Extreme programming
• The New Methodology
• Test First Programming / Test First Development
• Test Driven Development
• The Pragmatic Programmer
• Six Sigma
• DMAIC
• Lean software development
• Lean manufacturing
• The Toyota Way
• Lean Six Sigma
• Definition of Waste by Merriam-Webster

If you haven't tried running automated tests, especially with pytest, in VS Code recently, you should take another look.
The Python for VS Code interface for testing, especially for pytest, has changed recently.
On this episode we discuss the change with the software engineer working on the pytest changes, Eleanor Boyd, and the product manager, Courtney Webster.

Links from the episode:

• Blog post announcing the rewrite
• Code repo for questions, comments, issues etc

Learn pytest

• pytest is the number one test framework for Python.
• Learn the basics super fast with Hello, pytest!
• Then later you can become a pytest expert with The Complete pytest Course
• Both courses are at courses.pythontest.com

Adam is the host of The Gently Mad podcast, and teaches the steps in creating and growing a podcast in his course Irresistible Podcasting.

He was one of the people who inspired Brian to get the Test & Code podcast started in the first place. Brian took his course in 2015. Adam is in the process of updating the course, and building a community around it.

Warning: This may be an episode to listen to with headphones if you have kids around. There is swearing.

I wanted to get Adam's help to convince many of you to either come on this show as a guest, or start your own podcast. We did some of that. But we also cover a lot of issues like self doubt and the importance of community.

Special Guest: Adam Clark.

Sponsored By:

• Python Testing with pytest, 2nd edition: The fastest way to learn pytest and practical testing practices.
• Patreon Supporters: Help support the show with as little as $1 per month and be the first to know when new episodes come out.

Links:

• Irresistible Podcasting – A Step by Step Guide to Launching and Growing a Podcast that Can’t Be Ignored
• The Gently Mad – Life, business & entrepreneurship without the bullshit.
• avclark.com
• Justin Jacksons episodes on minimal podcasting | Build and Launch
• Dan Benjamin's Podcast Method podcast
• Python Bytes Podcast
• ATR2100 Mic
• Shure SM57 Mic
• Shure SM7B mic
• dbx 286s Microphone Preamp Processor
• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface

Lean TDD is an attempt to reconcile some conflicting aspects of Test Driven Development and Lean Software Development.

I've mentioned Lean TDD on the podcast a few times and even tried to do a quick outline at the end of episode 162.

This episode is a more complete outline, or at least a first draft.

If you feel you've got a good understanding of TDD, and it's working awesome for you, that's great. Keep doing what you're doing. There are no problems.

For me, the normal way TDD is taught just doesn't work. So I'm trying to come up with a spin on some old ideas to make it work for me. I'm hoping it works for you as well.

I'm calling the new thing Lean TDD. It's inspired by decades of experience writing software and influence from dozens of sources, including Pragmatic Programmer, Lean Software Development, Test-Driven Development by Example, and many blog posts and wiki articles.

The main highlights, however, come from the collision of ideas between Lean and TDD and how I've tried to resolve the seemingly opposing processes.

Full Transcript

Links:

• Lean TDD | pythontest.com
• episode 162: Flavors of TDD
• What is Test Driven Development (TDD)? | Agile Alliance
• Test First Programming / Test First Development | pythontest.com
• episode 7: The Waterfall Model and “Managing the Development of Large Software Systems”
• episode 51: Feature Testing
• The testing renaissance — Twitter Engineering blog post about Feature Testing
• Lean software development - Wikipedia

Some information about software testing is just wrong.
I'm not talking about opinions. I have lots of opinions and they differ from other peoples opinions. I'm talking about misinformation and old information that is no longer applicable.

I've ran across a few lateley that I want to address.

All of the following are wrong:

1. Integrated tests can't work. I can prove it with wacky math.
2. Tests have to be blazing fast or they won't get run.
3. TDD is about design, not about testing.

This episode discusses why these are wrong.

Sponsored By:

• Pantheon: Pantheon makes building, managing, and optimizing websites simpler. Get started for free at pantheon.io/testandcode.

Links:

• Why should you write tests? - A Question of Code Podcast
• Boundaries talk by Gary Bernhardt
• Integrated Tests Are A Scam - J B Rainsberger
• UnitTest - Solitary or Sociable - and speed - Martin Fowler
• Premature optimization is the root of all evil -- DonaldKnuth
• My reaction to "Is TDD Dead?" - Python Testing
• Test-induced design damage - DHH
• Slow database test fallacy - DHH
• RailsConf 2014 - Keynote: Writing Software - DHH
• Manifesto for Agile Software Development
• Apache Beam Contrib Guide, including post commit testing