Columns: Dev How-To and Advice


In the Beginning

Our columnist looks at the early days of low code/no code development through the observations of a toolmaker who saw it coming.

Forklift Container

The Key Role of Citizen Developers in Creating Digital Transformation

Citizen developers live in the department or business that is considering digital transformation--which means, our columnist observes, they have the potential to accelerate your software development and lighten expensive forklift upgrades.

Man Suit Tablet

Key to Citizen Developer Success: Set Everyone’s Expectations Properly

Low-code/no-code platforms enable people with little or no coding experience who know the processes being supported and the functionality required to build the apps themselves. Realizing the potential of these platforms in your organization, our columnist explains, will require some planning and a shift in expectations.

If You Can't Beat 'em, Support 'em!

Our new monthly columnist starts a conversation about at the evolution of a relatively new role in the enterprise enabled by platforms that radically change the nature of how applications are assembled, and which may hold the key to a more productive relationship between business users and IT.

A Visit to the Automated Testing Zoo

Our Agile Architect wants to talk about lessons learned from his experiences with test automation. As usual, he does it in his own unique way.

Building New Software? Beware The Tail: It Could Destroy You!

Our Agile Architect muses on the total cost of ownership of software and the ongoing cost, after initial development, of paying back technical debt due to bugs, low-quality software, and lack of automation.

Want to Make the Right Decision? Procrastinate Until 'The Last Responsible Moment'

Our Agile Architect offers some last-minute, just-made-the-deadline observations on the positive power of procrastination.

Notebook

Crafting the Perfect Agile Retrospective

Our Agile Architect leads you through all the things that go into crafting a perfect agile retrospective.

Nebula

Scientists use Big Data Techniques to Solve for Pi

Big Data analysis is being used to solve problems never before attempted. Our Agile Architect reports on a new technique that is groundbreaking in the breadth of its application.

Man and Arrows

Crafting the Perfect Agile Demo

Our Agile Architect leads you through all the things that go into making a perfect agile demo.

Why CEOs Should Care About Test Automation

As CEO of a tech company, you've been briefed by your VP of IT on the benefits of test automation. While the reasoning seems sound, it clearly is not an area you personally care much about. You should care. A lot! Our Agile Architect will tell you what your VP should have.

Evaluating SAFe

You say you want enterprise agility and you think SAFe is the way to go? Our Agile Architect explains why you just might be right. Or are you?

Will Crushing Expectations Make an Agile Team Non-Agile? DUH!

We are warning you! Our Agile Architect is in a pretty cantankerous mood. Read this at your own risk.

Do You Really Need the Complexity of an Enterprise-Scale Agile Framework?

So you're running a big complicated enterprise-scale operation. You're doing agile at the team level and now you are ready to tackle enterprise-scale agility. You take your first steps to introducing an enterprise-scalable agile framework. Oops! You may have just made a big mistake.

GitHub's New 'Actions' Adds CI/CD Features

GitHub unveiled an upgrade of its Actions workflow automation and customization solution today that comes with a new bundle of continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) capabilities. The new version is now in beta.

Can Agile Truly Scale To the Enterprise?

What makes Enterprise Agile different from plain ol' ordinary agile? Our Agile Architect returns with a series of columns exploring what we can gain from enterprise agility.

Compuware Adds DevOps Pipeline Integration, Other Features, to Topaz

Compuware kicked off the new year by unveiling a new set of enhancement for its Topaz mainframe DevOps solution, including new functionality in Topaz Team Profiles that facilitates knowledge-sharing between experienced mainframe developers and newer generations.

Why You Should Let Greed Accelerate Your Agile Development

If you think this is going to be an article on evil product owners and how they just want everything, you're going to be disappointed. Our Agile Architect explains how 'Greed-Accelerated Development 'is the completely achievable desire to want more from your work than just the immediate benefit while not paying any additional price for it. Bwa Ha Ha Ha!

Safety and The Agile Retrospective

Safety is an important ingredient in any agile retrospective. If team members don't feel safe, they may not be candid and honest with their input, negating the effectiveness of the retro. Our Agile Architect shares some of his techniques for measuring and maintaining safety.

DevOps Intelligence Gathering: What Are We Measuring Here?

Tim Buntel, DevOps Advocate at XebiaLabs, advises companies to focus on a combination of global measurements (traditional metrics from across the organization) and outcomes (delivery of software with speed and stability).