Friday, July 9, 2010

Defend Your Code

Ever explained a current bug or dirty implementation with one of those sentences?
  • "The (project) manager/marketer said, we have to meet the deadline."
  • "The (project) manager/product owner told you, a quick and dirty solution is okay for now."
  • "The XYZ told you, we NEED this new feature, no matter how it works behind."
Never? Though, I did, not currently but I did.

Who was responsible to the current problem? It's me. I treated non code-specific requirements over system quality. I did not write the unit test which had found the problem. I did not invest the time for refactoring to ensure a clean implementation. You might argue that somebody else decided. Nevertheless, it's my, and only my, task to keep the system clean, free of bugs and maintainable.

I see software projects are like a play and we, all the stakeholders, are the actors/actresses. The part of the marketer is to push forward for new features. Part of the project manager, managers and product owners is to obsess the schedule. And it's our part to defend the code!

What about "If I did not implement this feature in time, I'd got fired"? Probably not. Most Managers don't want buggy software or software that is hard to maintain for future requirements. Even if they don't say that very clear. Managers, and all other non developing stakeholders, just cannot rate importance of one or more unit tests and have no clue about refactoring (even if they say they do have).

If I would be an electrican, the building owner and the lead worker would always insist on the deadline. However, if there is no power when the building is done, I'd be the single neck to wreck. No building owner, no lead worker. It would be their part to push forward and it would be my part to make (and keep!) it work.

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