Testing, SQA, and V&V take time and get in the way of completing ground breaking science experiments.
Entropy magazine software#
After all, software is just a trivial tool to automate algorithms that implement physics models.
Entropy magazine verification#
Except here they don't take kindly to Software Quality Assurance or Software Verification and Validation either. In my current job, working at a highly regarded national laboratory with world renowned physicists, I have again encountered the negativity about testing software. I remember once having a conversation with a developer colleague who said, in the heat of battle, that it was fine to V&V his code, just don't test it! Once again V&V includes many things besides testing, but it just doesn't sound like an onerous thing to do to software. So I have deliberately called the System Test Group the Verification and Validation Group, or V&V Group, as a way of avoiding the negative image problem. Now I define Validation to mean assuring that the product produced does the right thing (usually what the customer wants it to do), and verification means that the product was built the right way (in accordance with some good design principles and practices). It was a real blessing when the concept of Validation and Verification came about for software. Software Quality Assurance is not such a negatively charged phrase, even though Software Quality Assurance is much more than simply testing. Ever wonder why most of the Independent Software Testing groups are called Software Quality Assurance groups? Now you know. So what can we do about it (short of hypnotic therapy for software developers)? Well one concept I have used (and still use) is to not call testing 'testing'. It is hard for most of us to reprogram associations learned at an early age. How many of us associate 'Joy' with 'Test'? Not many. In other words, 'test' is a four letter word. It is a negative word that congers up negative emotions. It goes back to grade school for many of us. So why is there such a strong negative reaction to testing? It is primitive. 'If any Test Engineers come into our office again to test our software we will throw them through the third floor window'. 'You are not qualified to test my software because you don't know as much as I do about it'. to these extremes: 'There is no need to test my software because there is nothing wrong with it'. Typical reactions I have heard over the years run from: 'I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the software, so go ahead and test it, better you find defects than our customers'. So why is this important to those of us in the software development business? Because I have found that a preponderance of software developers do not get real excited about hearing that the software they just wrote is going to be 'tested' by the Test Group. But by and large, my informal survey found that 'testing' is a word to which most people attach negative meanings, based on its historical context. Now there were a few exceptions like 'It was my third grade teacher, and I was happy and excited to show how smart I was'. Over a twelve year period, I always asked the following questions to Software Developers, Test Engineers, and Managers who took my two or three day seminar on Software Testing: 'When was the first time you heard the word test'? 'Where were you when you first heard the word test'? 'Who said the word test'? 'How did the word test make you feel'? Most of the thousands of responses were similar to 'It was my more » third grade teacher at school, and I felt nervous and afraid'. « lessįor a number of years I had the pleasure of teaching Testing Seminars all over the world and meeting and learning from others in our field. That's why you must start with a careful examination of your house and its existing condition. Of course, ''best'' will vary according to the situation. What exactly is a ''best practice''? To put this guide together, we've tested products, talked to contractors and manufacturers, and reviewed the results from a large number of house retrofits. We can't cover all the issues in these few pages, but we'll tell you some things you need to know if you're changing your siding or windows, and tell you where to learn more about other changes you may want to make to your house. That's what this Best Practices Guide is all more » about. The energy conservation rewards can be great, but there are also pitfalls that you'll want to avoid.
Retrofitting your house is a big deal, and you shouldn't underestimate the effort that will be required to plan the job properly. Not only will this reduce your utility bills, it will also improve your comfort level and improve our environment.
But whatever your reasons for retrofitting your home, this will be an important opportunity to improve your home's energy efficiency.
Entropy magazine windows#
AbstractNote = ,įew people add siding or change their windows just to reduce their energy bills.
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