Demo-driven development (2021)

I'm not generally for formalized development process but i love this. I have for a long time argued that a great way to do anything is to think how you would give a talk about your work. If you plan on giving a lecture about your work, you will:

- Come up with a narrative to explain your work.

- Think about what makes it compelling.

- Be sure to have clear reasons for your choices.

- Avoid boring approaches.

If public speaking isn't your thing, writing a blog post or paper will do the same thing. I find that the urge to make your presentation fun and engaging, makes you go the extra mile to make what your are working on delightful, and that in turn makes the work more fun and engaging. Since motivation is the most valuable asset a person can have I put a lot of stock in this approach.

Re: Demo-driven development (2021)

#6

Post by jadeforrest » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 10:08 PM UTC

stefan_ wrote: post #3

Begging people to realize not everything that involves development is also web frontend or app development.

From the article:

Include all the work. One thing to be careful of is that the demos are inclusive of all the work required to build functional software. Prepare the team to demo all the parts of their work: the APIs, the infrastructure, the reliability work, and the testing. It’s important for you to cheerlead the work that isn’t customer facing.

Re: Demo-driven development (2021)

#7

Post by stefan_ » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 10:11 PM UTC

jadeforrest wrote: post #6

stefan_ wrote: post #3

Begging people to realize not everything that involves development is also web frontend or app development.

From the article: Include all the work. One thing to be careful of is that the demos are inclusive of all the work required to build functional software. Prepare the team to demo all the parts of their work: the APIs, the infrastructure, the reliability work, and the testing. It’s important for you to cheerlead the work that isn’t customer facing.

These things don't demo well precisely because a demo doesn't help anyone to understand the decisions made in developing them. You can not just say "prepare to demo them anyway", that doesn't do anything useful.

Re: Demo-driven development (2021)

#8

Post by knallfrosch » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 10:14 PM UTC

That's just Scrum/Agile?

(I know, those are fuzzy terms.)

Re: Demo-driven development (2021)

#9

Post by awesomeMilou » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 10:21 PM UTC

quelsolaar wrote: post #5

I'm not generally for formalized development process but i love this. I have for a long time argued that a great way to do anything is to think how you would give a talk about your work. If you plan on giving a lecture about your work, you will: - Come up with a narrative to explain your work. - Think about what makes it compelling. - Be sure to have clear reasons for your choices. - Avoid boring approaches. If publi…

This approach is consulting 101. It rewards embellishment of your own work. I know for a fact that, if I'm allowed, I can be very convincing with regards to what I'm doing being meaningful and productive, even if I am doing total bullshit. I have enough public speaking skills to sell myself like that.

Re: Demo-driven development (2021)

#10

Post by quelsolaar » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 10:30 PM UTC

awesomeMilou wrote: post #9

quelsolaar wrote: post #5

I'm not generally for formalized development process but i love this. I have for a long time argued that a great way to do anything is to think how you would give a talk about your work. If you plan on giving a lecture about your work, you will: - Come up with a narrative to explain your work. - Think about what makes it compelling. - Be sure to have clear reasons for your choices. - Avoid boring approaches. If publi…

This approach is consulting 101. It rewards embellishment of your own work. I know for a fact that, if I'm allowed, I can be very convincing with regards to what I'm doing being meaningful and productive, even if I am doing total bullshit. I have enough public speaking skills to sell myself like that.

I don't do it to make people think I'm doing a good job, I'm doing it because it makes me do a better job. Some people actually want to do a good job, not just do the minimal effort they can get away with.