RichardOnRails wrote: [...] >> do you really want to work for clients who don't >> understand the importance of doing it right? > > Absolutely! First of all they paid me well. And if you've got kids to > feed or a mortgagee to repay, that's important.
Of course, but... > Secondly, clients > asked me to produce or modify code quickly, and they have a right to > buy Volkswagen code rather than Cadillac code, as do buyers for > cars. Like Colin, I think this is a poor analogy. What I'd say about my own practise is this: I'll be happy to develop a VW or a Cadillac as the project requires. What I will not do -- ever -- is skimp on the safety features. Regardless of whether I sell my clients a VW or a Cadillac, I have too much pride in my work to sell them a clunker that will be in the shop all the time. I'm not willing to compromise on quality -- and test-first development helps ensure that I can develop high-quality software quickly. If someone wants a car made with substandard materials, or with steering that loses control, he will not find it on my lot. I can make that guarantee because of my testing procedures. > > >> > I am responding to his wishes. >> No, you're not. > You're assuming he's some Neanderthal. In fact, he spent almost ten > years as the Internet Architect for a national organization. > That doesn't impress me without knowing more about the organization and his role there. Too many big organizations don't understand the 'Net. >> You're giving him hacked, brittle results. That's worse than none at all. > That's not the view of my well-informed client. We've talked about > it. Waiiiiiiiit...so it's up to your client to tell you whether you're hacking? WTF? How is he even in a position to know? > >> I used to develop without tests too. Never again. > I happy that you have that luxury. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity. (Actually, I'd really like to do proof-carrying code, but I'm not sure how feasible that actually is.) It only seems like a luxury till you try it and watch it saving your ass. > But I'm a version of the earlier > you. So, like you, I get to Agile-land. But, like St. Augustine, > I'll give up sin, but not right now :-) > Are you sure you want to model your behavior on a fairly hypocritical line? :) > Very best wishes, with appreciation of your insights, > Richard Best, -- Marnen Laibow-Koser http://www.marnen.org [email protected] -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en.
