Category Archives: Week-15

Embracing the Cycle of Growth

Hey Everyone! The “Create Feedback Loops” pattern shines a light on this predicament, reminding us of the fundamental importance of going outside the box, objective feedback to fuel our growth and development.

At its core, this pattern challenges the idea that self-assessment alone is enough for recognizing our strengths and weaknesses. It acknowledges the built in biases and limitations of our own perspectives, which can be hooked by the very teams we work with or the environments we are around. The solution is in actively creating methods that provide us with a mirror, reflecting our true selves through the eyes of others.

What resonates with me about this pattern is its emphasis on the nature of growth. I’ve always been one to say how we never stop learning in this field and by requesting feedback early, often, and effectively, we can create a clean cycle – one where we become conscious of times where we lack understanding, take action to improve, and then seek further feedback to validate our progress. We need to understand there is nothing wrong with taking criticism. This continuous loop not only fuels our personal development but also helps search for a mindset of success and openness to learning.

Personally, I find the pattern’s recognition of the difference between useful and ineffective feedback is definitely a new way I would’ve originally thought about it. It highlights the importance of constructive criticism from distractions, separating obtainable data from well-meaning but misguided advice. This judgment supports us to focus our efforts on the feedback that truly matters, giving us a new way to make targeted improvements and avoid the mindset of false confidence or unnecessary self-doubt.

So to speak on how this impacted me, I like when the patterns give me a different influence on my perspective on the intended field in a positive way. It has strengthened the concept that true mastery is not a isolated push but rather a collaborative journey, where we actively seek out and embrace the perspectives of others. By creating feedback loops, we not only improve our own skills but also contribute to the growth of those around us, fostering a culture of mutual support and shared learning.

In conclusion, the “Create Feedback Loops” pattern is a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking objective, actionable feedback in our quest for growth and mastery. It challenges us to be open to the idea of okay to listen, okay to fail, and okay to continue trying. By cultivating this cycle, we encourage our own development but also add to the supportive growth of our peers and technical community.

andicuni
May 15, 2024

From the blog CS@Worcester – A Day in the Life as a CS Blogger by andicuni and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Teaching to Learn: Understanding Through Sharing

Hey Everyone! As apprentices in the making , we spend countless hours absorbing knowledge, honing our skills, and making our craft as efficient as possible. However, the “Share What You Learn” pattern reminds us that true growth lies not just in getting knowledge but also in generously sharing it with others.
The essence of this pattern is fairly captured in the quote from Twyla Tharp: “Look at the luckiest people around you, the ones you envy, the ones who seem to have destiny falling habitually into their laps… they involve their friends in their work, and they tend to make others feel lucky to be around them.” This resonates deeply, as it highlights the equal relationship between sharing knowledge and creating a fulfilling, comfortable community.
Personally, I find this pattern both thought-provoking and inspiring. It goes against the idea of knowledge is a finite resource to be put aside, instead advocating for its free exchange and somewhat of distribution. By sharing what we learn, we not only empower others but also solidify our own understanding. As the saying goes, “When one person teaches, two people learn.” I’ve never resonated with a quote as much as that one. Teaching forces us to organize our thoughts, anticipate questions, and articulate concepts in a clear manner – a process that always deepens our understanding.
Moreover, this pattern has influenced my thoughts on our field. I now recognize that true mastery extends beyond individual expertise; it follows the ability to communicate effectively and uplift others. The pattern explains how a skilled craftsman who fails to share their knowledge ultimately limits their impact, while one who embraces this pattern becomes a trigger for collective growth, leaving a lasting legacy that goes past their individual contributions.
One aspect of the pattern that I agree with a lot is the perspective of knowledge sharing. It serves as a reminder that not all lessons are ours to share, particularly those that may harm others or breach confidentiality. This way highlights the importance of wisdom and care when sharing knowledge, ensuring that our actions contribute to a positive, trustworthy environment.
Overall, the “Share What You Learn” pattern has inspired me to embrace the joy of knowledge sharing and to view it as an important part of my professional journey. By defining what I’ve learned, I can make stronger connections within my community, validate my own understanding, and help to the collective improvement of our craft as we say how we never stop learning. It’s a upright cycle that benefits all involved, to continue to make an environment of continuous growth and mutual support.

andicuni
May 15, 2024

From the blog CS@Worcester – A Day in the Life as a CS Blogger by andicuni and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

CS-448: Week 15

The Long Road

The pattern “The Long Road” is about how in today’s culture, we value overnight celebrities, rising stars, and quick results. This leads to the conditioning of assuming that the shortest path possible is also the best path. With this thinking, people say to take the highest paying job and the first promotion available; however, this takes away from developers being able to slowly build up their skills.

The first step to this pattern is to accept that this nontraditional way of thinking may be considered strange because the focus is set on learning and the long term rather than a high salary and traditional views of leadership. The pattern highlights the importance of planning for the long term, and to plan on being a software developer for decades. Planning for the long term will help to influence what jobs to take and future ambitions. The pattern emphasizes planning for the long term because it takes a long time to comprehend the deeper, more complex topics that come with software development.

The pattern states that this is not a pattern for people who’s main focus is monetary gain. This is not to say that those who follow this pattern will not be able to make money, but it is not their main focus. If monetary gain is the main motivator for someone, they may find themselves counting down the days to retirement as opposed to the craftsman who will joyfully work until the end of their career.

In order to plan for the long term future, the pattern suggests thinking about yourself a long time from now, 20 plus years ahead. With that in mind, imagine what you would want your professional history to look like, and the biggest influences. Using that as a baseline can help plan for future career choices.

Conclusion

I found this pattern to be interesting because it showed a perspective that most do not talk about. The idea that the journey of a craftsman is a long road, so should be treated as such changed the way how I view going about my own career. Rather than focusing solely on how high the salary is, focusing on learning and long term goals will lead to a more joyful and enjoyable career.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Zack's CS Blog by ztram1 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Crafting Mastery: Deliberate Practice in Software Development

Summary:

The “Practice, Practice, Practice” pattern emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice and continuous improvement in mastering any skill, particularly in the realm of software development. Drawing from George Leonard’s concept of mastery and K. Anders Ericsson’s research on deliberate practice, the pattern highlights the necessity of carving out dedicated time for practice separate from daily professional responsibilities. While an ideal scenario involves structured exercises and mentorship, the reality often requires individuals to take initiative in their own skill development.

Reaction:

This pattern strikes a chord with me as it underscores the essence of lifelong learning and skill refinement. The notion that mastery is not merely a destination but a journey fueled by deliberate practice resonates deeply. It challenges the notion of perfection in favor of embracing imperfection as a catalyst for growth. Furthermore, the emphasis on creating a stress-free and playful environment for practice aligns with my belief in the importance of experimentation and exploration in learning.

Interest and Utility:

What I find intriguing about this pattern is its application of martial arts principles to software development. The concept of code katas, akin to choreographed movements in martial arts, offers a structured framework for practicing fundamental coding skills. Moreover, the emphasis on short feedback loops and the integration of public performance within a community of craftsmen underscores the collaborative nature of skill development in the tech industry.

Impact on Professional Outlook:

As someone aspiring to excel in software development, this pattern has prompted me to reconsider my approach to skill acquisition. Instead of viewing mistakes as setbacks, I now perceive them as invaluable learning opportunities. By committing to regular practice sessions and seeking feedback from peers, I aim to cultivate a growth mindset and continuously refine my coding abilities. Additionally, the suggestion to explore timeless resources like “Programming Pearls” for practice exercises has inspired me to delve deeper into the fundamentals of computer science.

Disagreement:

While I agree with the overarching principles of the “Practice, Practice, Practice” pattern, I believe there’s a need for acknowledgment of individual learning preferences and constraints. Not everyone thrives in a structured dojo environment, and some may prefer solitary practice or alternative forms of skill development. Therefore, while code katas and group sessions offer valuable avenues for improvement, they may not be universally applicable or accessible to all aspiring developers.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the “Practice, Practice, Practice” pattern serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of intentional practice in achieving mastery in software development. By embracing the principles of deliberate practice, seeking feedback, and exploring diverse learning resources, individuals can embark on a journey of continuous growth and skill refinement. As I incorporate these insights into my own professional development, I’m excited to see how regular practice and reflection will shape my journey toward mastery in software engineering.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Site Title by rkaranja1002 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Pytest

As a student of computer science, encountering different tools that streamline coding processes is a cornerstone of my educational journey. One such tool that has caught my attention this semester is pytest, a testing framework for Python that allows for simple unit tests as well as complex functional testing. After a thorough exploration, here’s why I believe every budding software developer should dive into pytest’s documentation.

Why I Chose This Resource

The reason I chose to delve into the pytest documentation is twofold. Firstly, our course has increasingly emphasized the importance of test-driven development (TDD), a method pytest excels at supporting. Secondly, several industry professionals I look up to have recommended pytest for its simplicity and efficacy, making it an essential skill in a developer’s toolkit.

Summary of the Resource

The pytest documentation provides a comprehensive guide to getting started with pytest, from installation to writing your first test. It covers key features like fixtures for a scalable and modular setup, markers for categorizing tests, and plugins to extend pytest’s capabilities. The documentation is well-organized and rich with examples, making it accessible to newcomers and a valuable reference for experienced developers.

Personal Reflection and Application

Reading through the pytest documentation was an enlightening experience. It not only clarified the mechanics of pytest but also underscored the benefits of using such a tool in real-world programming. One of the standout sections was on ‘parametrized testing’, which illustrated how to execute multiple permutations of a test with different input sets, ensuring broader coverage with fewer lines of code.

This resource has profoundly affected my approach to programming. It has instilled a more disciplined mindset towards testing, making me appreciate how early detection of issues can save time and resources in the development cycle. I now plan to integrate pytest into my upcoming projects, confident that it will enhance the quality and reliability of my code.

Future Practice

The knowledge gained from the pytest documentation is something I intend to apply in all my future software development endeavors. I see it as a step towards adopting best practices in testing, which is vital for any aspiring software engineer dedicated to producing robust and fault-tolerant software.

Conclusion

For any student of computer science, understanding the tools at your disposal is as crucial as mastering programming concepts. The pytest documentation is a goldmine of information that promises to elevate your testing skills. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to embrace test-driven development fully.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Abe's Programming Blog by Abraham Passmore and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Understanding JUnit: A Guide to Automated Testing in Java

What is JUnit?

JUnit is an open-source framework used for automated unit testing in Java. Unit testing involves testing small, isolated units of code to verify that they function as expected. These units could be individual methods, classes, or even a line of code.

When developers write code, they also write tests for that code using JUnit. These tests are then run automatically, checking for any deviations from expected behavior. JUnit provides feedback in the form of pass or fail results.

Why Unit Testing with JUnit?

Unit testing, facilitated by JUnit, offers several benefits:

  1. Early Bug Detection: By writing tests before or alongside the code, developers catch bugs early in the development process. This ensures that issues are addressed promptly and doesn’t propagate further.
  2. Code Reliability: Writing tests encourages writing modular, well-structured code. This leads to more reliable and maintainable codebases.
  3. Confidence in Changes: With a comprehensive test suite, developers can refactor or modify code confidently, knowing that any breaking changes will be immediately flagged by failing tests.

Features of JUnit

JUnit offers several features that make it popular among developers:

  1. Open Source: Being open source, JUnit is freely available for developers to use and contribute to. This fosters a vibrant community and ensures continuous improvement.
  2. Annotations: JUnit provides annotations to identify test methods, setup, teardown, and more. These annotations make test code more readable and maintainable.
  3. Assertions: It includes a set of assertion methods to validate expected outcomes. These assertions help in comparing actual results with expected results.
  4. Test Runners: JUnit has test runners that execute tests and report the results. It supports different types of test runners for various testing scenarios.
  5. Automated Test Running: Tests run automatically without manual intervention. This saves time and effort and provides quick feedback on the code’s health.

JUnit Annotations

Annotations in JUnit provide metadata to methods to control their behavior during testing:

  • @Test: Marks a method as a test method.
  • @Before: Executes before each test method.
  • @After: Executes after each test method.
  • @BeforeClass: Executes once before any test method in the class.
  • @AfterClass: Executes once after all test methods in the class.

Conclusion

JUnit is a vital tool for Java developers, ensuring code quality, reliability, and maintainability. Its features, including annotations and automated testing, make it invaluable in modern software development.

By understanding JUnit and incorporating it into your workflow, you can write better, more robust Java code. Embrace automated testing with JUnit, and watch your code quality soar!

Source: https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/java-tutorial/what-is-junit

From the blog CS@Worcester – CS: Start to Finish by mrjfatal and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Pattern: Expose Your Ignorance

Summary: “Expose Your Ignorance” advocates for honesty and humility in software development by encouraging developers to openly admit what they don’t know and actively seek learning opportunities. The pattern emphasizes that expertise is a result of the learning journey, not the end goal, and that building trust within teams is essential for growth.

Reflection: I really resonate with the idea of embracing ignorance as a natural part of learning, especially in an industry where it feels like you need to know everything. Admitting what we don’t know can be tough, but I’ve learned that it actually creates a better environment for learning.

Embracing Vulnerability: Admitting that we don’t know something can make us feel vulnerable, but it’s also a powerful way to build trust within our teams. Being humble and honest about our knowledge gaps encourages others to do the same. It creates an atmosphere where asking questions and seeking help are seen as strengths rather than weaknesses.

Shift in Mindset: It’s a real game-changer to shift our mindset away from always needing to appear competent. Instead, focusing on showing our ability to learn and adapt makes us more resilient. It takes away the fear of failing and makes us more willing to take on challenges. Plus, it encourages us to keep improving, which is crucial in such a fast-paced field.

Craftsmanship Analogy: Comparing software development to craftsmanship really speaks to me. Like a craftsman honing their skills, we need to keep expanding our knowledge base. It’s not about being an expert right away, but about constantly growing and learning. Expertise comes with time and practice.

Personal Experience: I’ve seen firsthand how embracing ignorance has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Being open about what I don’t know and actively seeking to learn has boosted my confidence and strengthened my relationships at work. Asking questions and being open to feedback have been key in my development as a developer.

Conclusion: “Expose Your Ignorance” is a great reminder that it’s okay not to have all the answers. By embracing our ignorance and actively seeking knowledge, we create opportunities for growth and improvement. It’s a lesson I’ll definitely keep in mind as I continue on my career path.

From the blog CS@Worcester – CS: Start to Finish by mrjfatal and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Object-Oriented Testing

Object-oriented testing is about ensuring that the object-oriented software works as it should. Testing is important in any project so it’s important to make sure that the code isn’t buggy or crashes. Object-oriented testing has specific techniques that test our object-oriented program by focusing on what matters the most like unit, subsystem, and system testing. Unit testing breaks down each class and test, it helps catch errors and figure out if things are talking to each other as they should be. Subsystem testing is like testing a group of classes together, it shows how they work as a team and how it handles anything outside of it. System testing makes sure to test everything in the system and check if everything works together, leaving a top-notch system. When it comes to object-oriented testing it’s important to look out for bugs, test everything, and clean code sooner rather than later. Testing is about finding any bugs and errors that can be fixed, so looking for those bugs would help solve any problems the software has.  Instead of cleaning up the code after it’s completed, it’s useful to test it early and keep at it so that the issues are fixed sooner rather than later.

I felt like object-oriented testing has given me more information about testing and even though I know that there are different types of testing it’s given me a better idea of how they work. This reading is important for software developers who would rush through their work and not practice clean code because it emphasizes testing earlier to find any errors and clean up code that could make it confusing for other software developers. The reason why I chose this topic is because object-oriented testing is important in software development and without this information, it can cause a lot of problems and more work for developers to do when it’s avoidable and fixable. Object-oriented testing plays a huge role in software development making it important to know how it works and what is easy to detect. It also teaches software developers more about clean code and makes sure that the code is readable and understandable for other developers.

https://goodpractices.home.blog/2019/11/27/object-oriented-testing/

From the blog CS@Worcester – Kaylene Noel's Blog by Kaylene Noel and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Software Testing Synergy: Leveraging IT Expertise for Optimization

Hey Everyone! As a student in a software testing course, the article “How Integrating IT Support Enhances Software Testing Outcomes” provided insightful perspectives that directly relate to our classroom lessons on implementing robust and comprehensive testing strategies. Having a good software testing process is important for defining quality and catching defects early before product release.
The article summarizes the key advantages of integrating IT support resources into the software testing lifecycle. It highlights how IT support teams have deep technical knowledge using testing frameworks, systems, networks, and more. By collaborating with developers and testers, they can apply this expertise to help assist processes like building robust testing environments, troubleshooting issues, identifying potential risks and creating test cases that accurately relay real-world scenarios.
I selected this particular resource because it reinforced topics we’ve covered in class about the importance of having well-designed testing processes and environments in place. The article’s examples resonated with me after completing last summer’s IT internship, where I saw firsthand how vital the support staff’s skills were for efficient testing and issue resolution when glitches started. Their ability to quickly diagnose and mediate problems minimized delays and facilitated a smooth development pipeline.
One of the most insightful sections outlined the advantages of integrating IT support beyond just bug detection. As we’ve discussed in our course lectures and materials, catching and fixing bugs is only one side of a comprehensive testing strategy aimed at delivering a high-quality product. The article demonstrated how collaborative IT-tester efforts enable a proactive, physical and mental approach for continuously validating software across the entire system and architecture. With their system-level expertise, IT staff can provide invaluable insights on creating more robust test cases that account for the complexities of production environments and real-world usage scenarios we may not anticipate.
What truly resonated was the need to tailor software testing processes and IT support services based on regional factors like the local talent pool, regulatory environment, and domain-specific challenges. This localized approach was obvious during my internship with Isto Biologics, as their IT support services catered their recommendations based on the market’s unique needs.
As I prepare for my future career, I now better appreciate the varied collaboration required for achieving comprehensive software testing and quality assurance. I expect to apply these learnings by prioritizing open communication between all stakeholders and advocating for strategic IT support integration from the onset of projects. Leveraging this relationship will be key to implementing robust testing processes that continuously validate quality while optimizing resources.

andicuni
April 28, 2024
https://www.softwaretestingmagazine.com/knowledge/how-integrating-it-support-enhances-software-testing-outcomes/

From the blog CS@Worcester – A Day in the Life as a CS Blogger by andicuni and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Automated Python Testing

Going into my future projects, especially those for my summer fellowship, I have taken a distinct interest in Python. Throughout this course I have learned a great deal of how to test for object oriented compiler languages, using Java as our learning tool. I have wondered how testing might differ across different languages. And with a large project in Python coming up, I’d like to prioritize doing this the right way. I would like to practice in python testing to prepare. Luckily, recently posted last week, there was an article on the home page of Stickyminds surrounding python testing. The article’s title is Ensuring Reliable Cloud Applications: A Guide to Testing State Machines with Python by Konstantin Sakhchinskiy

Testing state machines in cloud applications involves heavy use of APIs. Python scripting is effective to help to ensure reliability, performance, and resilience. This is one way that an efficient library-heavy scripting language like Python would be useful for cloud applications. It is very effective at being implemented for many applications now utilizing the language itself, if only as an effective testing language. In the case of a cloud app for example, managing external browser profiles for automation and web scraping, users interact via API to execute their needed functions. Python can be used to expedite this process, as a way to manage state machines necessary to operate this cloud app. General approaches to testing on these state machines include separating output generation from state transition logic, focusing on individual states and transitions, testing each possible state transition, exploring boundary conditions, testing resilience to invalid input or disruptions, and checking system interaction within the broader context. The article also mentions some key tactics for mastering state machine testing, including testing for race conditions, assessing external disruptions and network challenges, handling heavy loads, and understanding technical details such as hidden states. Python scripting can automate testing processes. Using asyncio and httpx, scripts can simulate user interactions with the cloud service, testing responsiveness. Tailoring tests to specific needs and monitoring system performance using tools like Grafana and Kibana are essentia, and made more efficient with Python’s wide variety of usable systems. Overall, testing state machines is crucial for ensuring application reliability, and Python scripting offers effective ways to automate and simulate real-world scenarios for comprehensive testing.

My view on testing applications was expanded greatly by this article. The prevalence of automated testing libraries throughout other languages to enforce scripting was a surprise to me. And this article has helped me to understand the real role of specific and intentional testing of software. I was also surprised to find that state machines were very important to understanding how to test and break down code, as this is something I learned a lot about in the fall. I am not working with external applications or languages outside of Python for this project, so I will not utilize these libraries to automate my testing, but going forward this knowledge is imperative.

Source:

https://www.stickyminds.com/article/ensuring-reliable-cloud-applications-guide-testing-state-machines-python

From the blog CS@Worcester – WSU CS Blog: Ben Gelineau by Ben Gelineau and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.