develpreneur podcast
Posted on Architecture Patterns and Anti-Patterns

The Wolf Ticket Anti-Pattern: As In Wearing Sheep’s Clothing

Communication and consistency are key traits of patterns.  Likewise, a lack of these creates anti-patterns like the wolf ticket.  We all know that standards are helpful and a worthy pursuit.  However, there are de facto standards that can cause us headaches.  Let’s look at how a good intention can turn into an anti-pattern. A Wolf Ticket Definition A wolf ticket is not that different from smoke and mirrors.  It is a standard or other conforming to rules where there is no enforcement.  Buzz words are a common example.  We see a word or phrase thrown around because it is the hot topic of the day.  However, there is a lack of vetting or validation to ensure compliance.  While people may... Read more

Posted on Become a Better Developer

DevOps – An Overview Of What It Is And How To Benefit

DevOps is a hot topic in recent years.  However, it is often misunderstood or ill-defined.  This presentation tries to correct that.  We look at its short history and how DevOps is used.  Likewise, we look at the pros and cons involved when your team embraces this facet of software development. DevOps Is a Steadily Growing Area While a young way to look at a part of the software development process, it is still rapidly growing.  The tools available to assist in this area grow daily.  Also, the growth of the Cloud and systems deployed there make DevOps more and more a necessity for developing modern solutions. The Mentor-Mastermind Group This series comes from our mentoring/mastermind classes.  These classes are virtual meetings... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Architecture Patterns and Anti-Patterns

The Jumble Anti-Pattern : Mixing up horizontal and vertical

One of the funny things about anti-patterns is that they are obvious in the name alone.  We might not know what it is but everyone avoids a jumble.  There is no technical knowledge required to judge this is not a good idea for a solution architecture.  In this episode, we review the jumble anti-pattern, what it looks like, and how to avoid it. The Jumble Defined The key to the jumble anti-pattern is horizontal and vertical elements of the design.  We want to keep those separate much like in Ghostbusters, do not cross the streams.  There should be a clear usage for a component either in the horizontal or vertical sense.  That allows us to use them properly and within... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Architecture Patterns and Anti-Patterns

Cover Your Assets Anti-Pattern : Protection Over Production

Overkill is a theme among many anti-patterns.  The cover your assets approach is one of those types where it just goes too far.  There is nothing wrong with providing a solid paper trail and communication.  However, we can make documentation the point and miss the true goal of a project. Cover Your Assets Defined This anti-pattern is the same as documentation for documentation’s sake.  We get lost in administrative red tape, but do not make it to analysis paralysis.  The whole project becomes thinking about the architecture and documenting it.  However, decisions do not get made.  Instead, there is a lot of discussion and options provided.  That all adds up to loose ends and is a waste of time for... Read more

database testing
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Database Testing And Automation – Mock Data And Environments

Database testing is fraught with challenges.  We have to find new ways to create a database replica, match the data in size and meaning as well as validate changes.  These obstacles add up to this sort of testing requires automation and careful consideration.  In this session, we look at the pitfalls and ways to properly test and validate your database. Database Testing And Automation We cover this topic through looking at the issues, looking at the basic tools, and then what automation is needed.  The discussion stays surface level and does not go deep into any specific tools.  That way you can find this presentation useful no matter which database or environment you find your self facing. The Mentor-Mastermind Group... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Architecture Patterns and Anti-Patterns

The Swiss Army Knife Anti-Pattern – All Things To All People

Much like the make people happy obstacle, we have the Swiss Army Knife Anti-Pattern.  This mistake is another example of over-architecting a solution.  Think of it as throwing everything into a design instead of thinking through what is needed.  However, this approach is not gold-plating and bells and whistles.  Instead, it adds things “just in case” they are required. The Swiss Army Knife Anti-Pattern Defined We often have pointed out patterns that break down and simplify a problem.  The Swiss Army Knife Anti-Pattern is almost the opposite of that.  Instead of breaking a problem into smaller parts, there are fewer, more complex components.  That leads to complicated usage and often confusing results.  Even worse, this anti-pattern creates side effects and... Read more