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kiwi bird Saving Birdsong: Using Machine Learning to Monitor Kiwi Birds and Possums

In an attempt to turn birdsong and predator monitoring into data that can help improve pest trapping ability, the Cacophony Project is an open-source conservation project employing technologies such as embedded systems, web applications, backend services, and machine learning pipelines.

Graphic of two people's minds overlapping, showing empathy Bringing Empathy into Quality EngineeringTesters have always been advocates for the end-user. But there are now more opportunities to be that advocate, including emotional intelligence-based testing and role-based testing, which form a critical part of empathetic testing. Building empathy into our software engineering process ends up benefiting everyone.
Project manager working with her team 5 Common Mistakes Project Managers Should AvoidWhen you're responsible for leading a new software project, of course it’s impossible to steer clear of every single mistake. But there are plenty of common mistakes project managers fall into that can be easily avoided simply by being mindful of them. Here are five common mistakes PMs make that you should be wary of.
Road winding through the mountains How to Take the High Road as a LeaderLeaders who invite feedback and then suggest, by word or deed, that only positive feedback is welcome end up ensuring that critical feedback—the kind they really need—will be withheld. If you get feedback from employees that isn't what you wanted to hear, don't act vengeful. Take the high road with your response.
Pie graph A Holistic View of Test CoverageNo single person on the team knows much about test coverage at a high level. Developers might understand it for parts of the code base they worked on. Testers might understand it for the last handful of features they tested. But neither is able to talk about test coverage in a meaningful way. We need a holistic view.
Before Rolling Out Products, Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

Beyond focus groups and surveys, different paths lead to uncovering ways to delight your customers. It is important to recognize the problems, challenges, wants, and needs of people. “Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes” is also good advice for rolling out products.

Johanna Rothman Challenges Facing the Agile Industry: A Slack Takeover with Johanna RothmanThought leaders from the software community are taking over the TechWell Hub for a day to answer questions and engage in conversations. Agile manager and consultant Johanna Rothman hosted this Slack takeover, which led to some insightful discussions. Here are some of the top questions and takeaways from the Hub.
Hand holding miniature white alarm clock An Agile Approach to Deciding When to DecideConsidering when to make certain decisions is just as important as how. “Inspect and adapt” is a valuable approach in agile, not only for product and process, but also for figuring out when to implement choices about your projects. Evaluating the reversibility, migration, and sustainability of decisions can help.