Archive for February, 2006
Speaking on Testing on Feb 27th 2006
Feb 20th
It is over three months since I last presented anywhere, so it is time to do it again:
This is brand new material with only one slide carried from my NUnit presentations.
The subject is testing, and on my first dry run it was utterly boring. Since
then I rewrote the slides, and am quite happy that most developers will enjoy
it.
The material is mostly high level covering:
- Extremes of development methodologies
- Different test practices, and when each one makes sense
- Automated Testing in Team System
It will not be as much fun as last
year’s code camp, but I think it is worth attending for any developer wishing
to become more methodical. This will be the primary presentation that I hawk at code
camps this year, so feedback after the event is very much appreciated.
Kicked OpenOffice to the curb (for now)
Feb 14th
For the last month or so I have using OpenOffice. It is part of my long term plan
to try moving my personal Laptop (email/ web browsing machine mainly) to Linux. The idea
is to find open source software that exists in both Windows and Linux. I am checking
out the tools on Windows, before making the switch to Linux.
Well OpenOffice looked good while I was used it for making minor changes to Word
documents, and editing my Excel based project-plans. Yesterday and today I have
been brushing up my resume which uses a large number of tables. Several times
open office moved chunks of text around! I do not mind missing a few features,
but this bug is too serious.
What I did not know is that Sun still holds tight control of OpenOffice’s reigns.
This is why we have not seen the likes of IBM or Google really pitch into its
development. I heard on a podcast today that Sun is being urged to give up control of
OpenOffice. Maybe if they do then version 3.0 will swing the balance to using Linux
on the Desktop?
So will I be giving on .Net anytime soon? Are you crazy! I foresee .Net as the major
business development platform for the foreseeable future – I will be amazed if anyone
can challenge Microsoft in the new ten years. Other than Open Source .Net that is: It
has been two years since I used Mono (successfully) in the workplace, and Scott tells
us mono is far more mature today. I know I am always recommending podcasts, but if
know little about Mono you should really checkout Hanselminutes show 5, <The
State of the Mono Project./>:
or this link will go directly to episode here when Scott gets off his lazy ass and
updates his website (only kidding Scott, you rule!):
Microsoft hiring 20+ consultants in Atlanta y’all
Feb 13th
Today I looked at the Atlanta job boards for the first time in a good while. It
appears even Microsoft is having a hard time finding people in this mini tech-boom,
I say this because they have resorted to public job postings.
Salary is $80->130K + stock/bonuses, which I expect are the ranges for a high GPA,
few years out of college grad, to the 15+ years of IT experience guy. The candidate must
be willing to travel which is why the ceiling about $15K higher than most
others in town.
It does not interest me because of the travel, but I’ll be a good few
Atlanta based readers are interested. If you apply try to ask a local Microsoft
DE/ consultant what the interview may entail – they have a few recurring themes/
questions from what I hear. You might want to ask them how demanding their job is
too 
So are you interested in selling your soul to the devil, and forgetting what your
wife and kids look like? I thought so.. Start
by clicking here.