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Showing posts from May, 2011

Growing Object-Oriented Software, Guided by Tests

by Steve Freeman and Nat Pryce. ISBN 978-0321503626 I'll cut straight to the chase: This is a great book! In fact I'd put it second, behind Test Driven Development by Kent Beck, on my must read list for developers. Testing is so important and while Unit Testing is becoming mainstream, many are failing to take the next next few steps to integration and system (end-to-end) testing. This book tells you why you should and shows, with practical examples, how to get started. Growing Object Orientated Software Guided by Tests was the first place I read about the Walking Skeleton. Originally described by Alistair Cockburn, this is a technique I've been using for the last few years and didn't realise there was a name for. The Auction sniper example that covered by the middle chapters introduces not only testing techniques, but lots of useful and practical lessons about good design. The later chapters discuss improving your tests, including readability. The final two chapters cov

Triumph TR7 V8 Forsale

Today is a dark day. My pride and joy is forsale: http://tinyurl.com/3o37rdy Triumph TR7 drop head in British Racing Green. Converted to 3.5 litre V8 using a Rimmer Brothers Kit and SD1 engine. Engine modifications include Carter downdraft carburettor (Similar to Webber) and a 4:2:1 twin stainless steel exhaust system (beautiful V8 sound). 15inch alloy wheels, including spare, with Michelin Pilot 205/50 tyres with plenty of tread. Brakes have been uprated with front ventilated discs and 4 pot callipers. The suspension has also been uprated. Tow bar with single socket electronics. Bee Security category 2 immobiliser. Panasonic CQ-FX321N stereo radio with 6 disc CD changer. The car is in generally good condition but has a few quirks and some surface rust as one would expect from a car of this age. The worst rust is shown in one of the photos. The drivers seat is in poor condition (see photo) but there is a spare driver’s and passenger’s seat to go with the car. The high speed setting

Afterglow by Kevlin Henney

We all know Kevlin Henney from his technical writings, so I was keen to see what sort of fiction he might write. Before I read it, and even now, I had no idea of what the guidelines set for this short story were, but I was hoping for some science fiction. There wasn’t any, but it was still good. The subject matter of Afterglow is a little on the dark side and like so many good stories, I had to read it a couple of times to really understand what it was about, who the person telling the story was and what situation they found themselves in now. Along with all the obvious emotion and feeling there is still a slight technical edge in certain places. Personally I’m looking forward to the next, hopefully longer, piece.