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software engineering

Basic multiplication quiz Are Your Fundamentals Malfunctioning?

Every objective has certain elements that are fundamental to its success. These include the supporting tasks or systems that we take for granted but without which our “real” work could not get done. In order for any organization or team to meet its primary objectives, these fundamentals need to be functioning properly.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Developing Artificial Intelligence Systems for Dynamic Environments

From navigating unfamiliar terrain and dangerous weather conditions to working in risky situations, AI could be of enormous aid to first responders and the military if AI systems could react appropriately when something significant and unexpected occurs, without needing to be retrained on a large data set.

Pamela Rentz's picture
Pamela Rentz
People applauding near a medal saying "2018" Top 10 TechWell Insights Stories of 2018

Many teams are embracing new practices, and several of last year's most-read stories reflect that, with topics such as AI, DevOps, and continuous testing. But it looks like lots of teams also want to get back to basics, because guides to tried-and-true agile and testing methods also ranked high. Check out the roundup.

Beth Romanik's picture
Beth Romanik
girls in STEM Yes, She Can STEM—and More

Many girls begin losing interest in STEM subjects as early as middle school, and this path continues. #SheCanSTEM is a new public service media campaign that hopes to encourage middle school girls to ultimately pursue STEM careers by challenging stereotypes and showcasing female STEM role models. 

Pamela Rentz's picture
Pamela Rentz
Illustration of minimum viable product with cars Interface Grief: Is It Agile, or Just Bad Software Engineering?

There are people who will use "being agile" to justify software engineering practices that could be perceived as lazy or even bad. The specifications are going to change, they say, so it would be a waste to engineer more to begin with than the minimum viable product. What's expediency and what's just poor practice?

Payson Hall's picture
Payson Hall
Technical manager Do Software Teams Need Managers with Technical Expertise?

Soft skills matter in how effective a manager is, but what about technical skills? If you're a software engineer, how important is it to you for your manager to have the same background and to fully understand your job? Ideally they would, but in some cases, that role can be better filled by a technical lead.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Cover of the fall 2016 issue of Better Software magazine What’s in the Fall 2016 Issue of Better Software Magazine?

In the cover feature article of the fall 2016 issue of Better Software magazine, “The Evolution of Software Monetization,” Michael Zunke details how software vendors misfire in an attempt to balance protection of their intellectual property with complicated software licensing schemes that frustrate customers.

Ken Whitaker's picture
Ken Whitaker
Building a Business Case for Automation in Your Software Lifecycle

To remain competitive, organizations should consider implementing a well-integrated set of automation capabilities—not just for testing, but across the entire lifecycle. Making the investment might take some convincing, so here are some questions to ask in order to assess the potential benefits of automation.

Michael Sowers's picture
Michael Sowers