What's in the Winter 2016 Issue of Better Software Magazine?
Happy New Year, everyone!
With the first 2016 issue of Better Software magazine, there are more changes going on than just the calendar year. You may know Better Software’s parent company as Software Quality Engineering or SQE, but we recently rebranded the company to TechWell Corporation. The new name reflects our growing focus on the entire software development lifecycle.
Our TechWell.com website has been completely redesigned to highlight our conferences, training, and online communities: AgileConnection, StickyMinds, CMCrossroads, and, of course, TechWell Insights.
This issue of Better Software is loaded with great feature articles, starting with James Higginbotham’s blueprint for writing a web API. His brilliant summary of seven guidelines should become your blueprint for creating a superior open interface for enterprise access to your software product’s services.
And before taking the plunge into test automation, you’ll want to read Steve Gibson’s “three Ps:” perils, pitfalls, and promise.
There’s no doubt that software development teams have embraced agile. I’ve heard Bob Galen speak about how to treat quality as a feature on every project. His insightful article about the three pillars of agile quality provides real-world advice for how to balance quality initiatives with your team.
Harry Robinson and Doug Szabo include sample code snippets for tests that can be scripted according to their four rules for test automation. Every software developer and QA engineer will want to absorb their approach for better code validation.
This issue also includes an innovative article on gamification that uses games as a way to reinforce learning nontraditional material (like software development topics). According to Ross Smith and Rajini Padmanaban, major corporations are investing in gamification as the best way to inspire collaboration, improve morale, and motivate learning.
Lastly, if you aren’t too familiar with the emergence of DevOps, you’ll want to read how Bob Aiello and Leslie Sachs suggest you assess and improve your DevOps procedures.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as I enjoyed working with these wonderful authors.
And don’t forget to spread the word—SQE is now TechWell Corporation, and Better Software magazine has the same great content as ever!
