Understanding Code Visually: Three Ways that Work
In trying to help developers understand code we have made sure to listen to what they have to say. We’ve noticed that many developers utilize UML style diagrams to try to understand code. However many...
View ArticleDealing with Complex Code: Where to Start?
When coding we often spend a significant amount of their time understanding new or unfamiliar code. Attempting to use a new library or fix a bug in a poorly organized component without first fully...
View ArticleNew Years Resolutions of a Software Developer
Happy new year all! With the new year comes a chance to re-invent yourself, and as a software developer I find that it is a great opportunity to reflect on how I can improve my skills in the upcoming...
View ArticleHerding Software Developers
Managing software developers can be a difficult task, especially when working with an agile team. Changing requirements and priorities combined with a learning and growing team can make even the most...
View ArticleA Detailed Study on Understanding Code
Let’s face it; code can be hard to understand. We have all encountered a piece of code that took longer than expected to figure out or was easy to misunderstand. It could be a new library, a coworker’s...
View ArticleMaking Code Easy to Understand – What Developers Want (a study)
What exactly makes a codebase easy to understand; the documentation or the tools that you use? In our effort to help developers who are working with large codebases, we conducted a survey (see details...
View ArticleDiagrams- More than What Meets the Eye
“Diagrams?” Yes, diagrams. All of us use diagrams in one way or another. Mostly, diagrams are used to enhance communication and to illustrate what exactly one is talking about. “But that’s it. Diagrams...
View ArticleDiagrams in Open Source & Successful Development
When development teams are in the same room, it is not surprising to see diagrams being used – if only being shared via sketches made on pads, or through the use of whiteboards. Interestingly, despite...
View ArticleDocs- Who needs them?
Software documentation is one of those things that is sorely missed when it isn’t there. Why is it the last thing that any of us developers wants to do? It seems that it is easy for us to ignore...
View ArticleI’ve Just Inherited an Application – Now What?
I have previously written about how lack of decent software documentation can cause problems in doing what we developers love to do, deliver functioning software. Documentation, code comments and good...
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