Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
1–10 of 12 posts
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#2I think I like this idea but I'm not sure if I can decompose my applications into small enough chunks. Maybe you could add mock services to call out to?
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#3This is a really good idea and something like this will be the 99designs of the coding world.
I am not entirely sure it will work, (the effort to write the unittests is high) and there is little understanding of the codebase it will enter and the code reuse issue is ...
Add to that integration and delivery and this unittest approach is a problem.
But change it to be "here is our code and CI on github", create a pull request that will change the flow of the credit card processing to use swipe and paypal as well as our tired old merchant bank.
People could bid for the project, and so forth.
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#4It will be a good idea when you can actually get paid for implementing contracts.
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#5This is a really good idea and something like this will be the 99designs of the coding world. I am not entirely sure it will work, (the effort to write the unittests is high) and there is little understanding of the codebase it will enter and the code reuse issue is ... Add to that integration and delivery and this unittest approach is a problem. But change it to be "here is our code and CI on github", create a pull…
If it takes as much effort to write the unit tests as it does to implement the solution then the problem was trivial to begin with, but that's probably true of 90% of all programming work.
It might be more useful for harder problems but there are already a number of sites addressing those : TopCoder, kaggle, Innocentive, etc.
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#6This is a really good idea and something like this will be the 99designs of the coding world. I am not entirely sure it will work, (the effort to write the unittests is high) and there is little understanding of the codebase it will enter and the code reuse issue is ... Add to that integration and delivery and this unittest approach is a problem. But change it to be "here is our code and CI on github", create a pull…
If it takes as much effort to write the unit tests as it does to implement the solution then the problem was trivial to begin with, but that's probably true of 90% of all programming work. It might be more useful for harder problems but there are already a number of sites addressing those : TopCoder, kaggle, Innocentive, etc.
One thing on my "to-do" list is adding a test suite builder, that allows you to specify inputs and outputs and then generates the test code for you. That would allow people who can't code or just aren't familiar with the syntax of a particular language/framework to still post contracts.
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#7It will be a good idea when you can actually get paid for implementing contracts.
Thanks! Yes, paid contracts are coming soon :)
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
If it takes as much effort to write the unit tests as it does to implement the solution then the problem was trivial to begin with, but that's probably true of 90% of all programming work. It might be more useful for harder problems but there are already a number of sites addressing those : TopCoder, kaggle, Innocentive, etc.
One thing on my "to-do" list is adding a test suite builder, that allows you to specify inputs and outputs and then generates the test code for you. That would allow people who can't code or just aren't familiar with the syntax of a particular language/framework to still post contracts.
That's an amazing idea.
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#9It's fun, but I appear to have 135 points after completing about 35 points of contracts :)
Re: Show HN: Codetract, software micro-contracting via unit testing
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
If it takes as much effort to write the unit tests as it does to implement the solution then the problem was trivial to begin with, but that's probably true of 90% of all programming work. It might be more useful for harder problems but there are already a number of sites addressing those : TopCoder, kaggle, Innocentive, etc.
One thing on my "to-do" list is adding a test suite builder, that allows you to specify inputs and outputs and then generates the test code for you. That would allow people who can't code or just aren't familiar with the syntax of a particular language/framework to still post contracts.
Cucumber and related "natural language tests" were supposed to do this - allow non-programmers to program tests.
Turns out everyone who writes a cucumber test is a programmer writing their own unit tests or a whole batch for everyone else.
I do think there is mileage in wufoo / VWO style webstie testing - record a series of macros and replay them each day against the site - let people know when something changes / does not work. ie a regular scheduled sign up with specific credit card then a cancellation - test that the whole sign up / email thing is still working.