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How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

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Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#81

Post by ndesaulniers »

objclxt wrote: post #34
askafriend wrote: post #7

This comment from a former employee on the iOS team provides some more context around the software quality issues. I think this is the more interesting point around which we should have this discussion. https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/7x0eif/how_apple_pla...

I have a slightly different perspective (I worked on iOS 7 - 11). One of the things about Apple that's different to many of the other tech conglomerates is that engineering teams are given huge freedom to work the way they want (for better and for worse). Because engineering is so fragmented you should always take what one person says about the process with a pinch of salt. So that means there are hundreds of source…

plain emailed diffs? this isn't LKML

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#82

Post by coolwhhip »

cageface wrote: post #65
objclxt wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a slightly different perspective (I worked on iOS 7 - 11). One of the things about Apple that's different to many of the other tech conglomerates is that engineering teams are given huge freedom to work the way they want (for better and for worse). Because engineering is so fragmented you should always take what one person says about the process with a pinch of salt. So that means there are hundreds of source…

Based on your experience there what would you say is the cause of the recent slip in software quality in both iOS and macOS? As an outsider it looks to me like they're just pushing too hard to keep up with a yearly release schedule but that's based on no inside knowledge at all.

Shipping gets you power and influence. Outside of personal conviction and judgement, there’s not incentive to do much else.

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#83

Post by exBarrelSpoiler »

ndesaulniers wrote: post #81
objclxt wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a slightly different perspective (I worked on iOS 7 - 11). One of the things about Apple that's different to many of the other tech conglomerates is that engineering teams are given huge freedom to work the way they want (for better and for worse). Because engineering is so fragmented you should always take what one person says about the process with a pinch of salt. So that means there are hundreds of source…

plain emailed diffs? this isn't LKML

The primitive state of tooling in some corners of a sprawling corporate empire would make your head spin.

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#84

Post by gergles »

I just hope they can make Spotlight work. I can drag down from the home menu, type the full name of an app on the phone, and only get random other results (or the App Store link to the app.)

e.g.: https://imgur.com/a/jYE9M (reminders is a built-in app but apparently Spotlight's never heard of it)

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#85

Post by whitehouse3 »

gergles wrote: post #84

I just hope they can make Spotlight work. I can drag down from the home menu, type the full name of an app on the phone, and only get random other results (or the App Store link to the app.) e.g.: https://imgur.com/a/jYE9M (reminders is a built-in app but apparently Spotlight's never heard of it)

You can manually select which apps can be found with Spotlight in the settings app. I had the same problem finding 1Password until I went into settings and explicitly added it. This is terrible UX, but that’s how to fix it on your device until Apple sorts it out.

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#86

Post by closeparen »

throwaway7187 wrote: post #63
askafriend wrote: post #7

This comment from a former employee on the iOS team provides some more context around the software quality issues. I think this is the more interesting point around which we should have this discussion. https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/7x0eif/how_apple_pla...

Perfect time for the ol' throwaway... I'm a former iOS EPM (not speaking for Apple, obviously, since I don't work there anymore), and although the Reddit commenter got the atmosphere of constant crisis right, he/she is misplacing the blame and misunderstanding the power dynamic. EPMs at Apple essentially have zero power over engineers' workload. They take the list of stuff the engineering managers said they want to g…

We use the bug tracker for coordination and collaboration. If you have a customer-affecting bug or a stakeholder-facing feature you’ll use the relevant task to discuss it, but we certainly don’t let the bug tracker dictate how engineers spend their time. That sounds like hell.

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#87

Post by bpyne »

bpyne wrote: post #35
askafriend wrote: post #7

This comment from a former employee on the iOS team provides some more context around the software quality issues. I think this is the more interesting point around which we should have this discussion. https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/7x0eif/how_apple_pla...

Based on this comment, it sounds like engineers are more like line workers. "EMs at Apple are powerless to push back. Every engineer's performance is tied to the number of Radars fixed and closed. Every EM's performance is tied to their team's total Radars fixed and closed, so they have an incentive to keep everyone focused on the prize."

Thanks for the perspective Klathmon and objclxt. The person's comment hits a fear of mine that people still draw the false analogy of manufacturing for software development.

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#88

Post by nly »

untog wrote: post #46
heavymark wrote: post #13

This rumor has been around past few months, hoping it's true. Though while us technies in the minority would rather bug fixes than new features that don't apply for us, the general public would be very upset if iOS12 changes are all under the hood, as they would say Apple has fallen behind and people will insert common statements every years like they are finally considering switching etc. So while I hope the do fix…

> So while I hope the do fix long standing small bugs, I think the average user would lose their mind if they do. I really don't think they would. If you asked any person on the street what new features came with iOS 11 vs iOS 10 I really don't think they'd be able to tell you. It was a very minor upgrade, and no-one really seemed to care. A number of people I know try to avoid updating because they mostly associate…

Isn't the answer poop emoji with facial recognition?

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#89

Post by rdschouw »

ProfessorLayton wrote: post #12

This is sorely needed. Every iOS update has introduced bugs and UX gremlins that have been dragging Apple's software quality through the mud. Chief among them is Apple Music, since it is a huge part of Apple's service initiative. - Their latest update now wastes space to tell me it isn't playing anything! - Often times just refuses to work. No error, no graceful recover. Just silence. https://imgur.com/a/VrO1Y - Aird…

Yea, I hear you. For me, Apple Music randomly pauses my music when it is on bluetooth or ipod dock every 60-90s. Googling it revealed that I am not alone and this issue has been going on since the introduction of Apple Music app. Every release I try again, but no fix so far.

Re: How Apple Plans to Root Out Bugs, Revamp iPhone Software

#90

Post by closeparen »

cwyers wrote: post #79
askafriend wrote: post #7

This comment from a former employee on the iOS team provides some more context around the software quality issues. I think this is the more interesting point around which we should have this discussion. https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/7x0eif/how_apple_pla...

> Nothing could be worked on if it wasn’t in Radar with a priority number attached and signed off by the teams’ EPM. Is this supposed to sound bad? Because it just sounds... professional.

It sounds professional to need permission to spend time on something? I typically associate professionalism with the model where you’re accountable to the functionality, impact, quality, and health of your components, with an EM supporting your negotiations around scope and timelines, and letting you budget your own time.
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