SE Tip of the Day

Note: I'm going to try and start giving a SW Engineering tip that I find useful every so often. I know I'm no expert, but I'd like to think I am good at what I do.

Today's tip goes along with the maintenance phases of a project.

Tip:	When using third-party tools and libraries in your application, be sure to keep them up-to-date in your code base.

When you initially decide to use a certain version of a programming language or a third-party library package you are doing so to get the current product out the door and into use. In most cases, as soon the product is shipped newer versions of these technologies have been put into release. Often you are faced with a decision of whether to assign levels of effort to try to incorporate the new technologies with your product or to simply move forward with the status quo. I believe it would be a mistake to attempt to constantly update your code base as new versions of technologies are released. However, I believe that the discussion of upgrading to new versions of technologies should occur at least once a year. Otherwise, prolonged use of technologies that become out of date will create maintenance problems as those technologies will begin to lose the amount of support needed when having problems associated with them. So take the time to carefully upgrade your tools and libraries so your product stays with the current technologies.

Mission: Complete... well for the most part anyway

So I actually completed a draft of my thesis so it looks like I am going to make that walk across the stage in December. This is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life. It took so much time doing research, writing simulations, and writing the final paper. Even though I know I have another round of edits and a presentation to do I am satisfied that I was able to bust out the 60+ pages I put down on paper.

Now I have to figure out what I want to do next. I know I will take a month to study for my Java certification exam and start thinking about going for the certified developer exam, but other than that I don't have much else planned. Who knows, maybe I'll find some hobbies!

Time....

I'm still going hard on the thesis, but I'm running out of time. I really want to get this thing done this semester so this next week is going to have to be the hardest working week I have ever had. The thought of having to drag this thing out until the Spring is something I want no part of at all!! Wish me luck!!

Progress...

So today I finished writing my simulation, well sort of...

It runs and it works, but I still have some things I need to add in for it to be fully complete, but it is at a point where I can get with my professor and decide what data we need to collect. So it's looking like I actually will finish this thing this semester and be done with school, for a while anyway.

So wish me luck because now I have to start focusing on the paper portion. :-(

Long Time...

Wow, it's been quite a while since I last posted. So much has changed in the time between these posts. In this time I have started a new job and officially applied for graduation in this Fall semester. I guess I'll give a little update on both...

The job...
The situation at my previous job began to make me feel uneasy, so I felt I needed a change. I just began to feel like I was not growing and advancing as quickly as I would have liked. On top of that, I was about to be transferred to a new work group for the third time in less than a year. Each time you get transferred you pretty much have to start from scratch as far as building towards a promotion because you have a new boss and a new set of co-workers and you have to learn about what they are doing so you might as well be coming in straight from college. Not a good situation at all...

So the day I found out about being moved I went home and got on Dice.com (excellent source of jobs for you techies looking for work) and started to browse job openings. I saw a posting for a job in Fort Worth doing something that was similar to what I was doing and applied. Low and behold, they called me the next day to set up a phone interview and the rest is history. I've been with my new company for a month now and I am enjoying it. It is a completely different atmosphere and a nice change of pace. If you are feeling unhappy in your current role or position I would suggest you consider making a move. It could literally make you instantly feel better.

School, school, school...
Well, what can I say? I am actually going to finish this whole grad school thing this semester. I have applied for graduation, but there is plenty of work left to do. I am about 75% done developing my simulation. I'm actually taking a break from working on it as I type this post. As soon as I finish my simulation I will be meeting with my professor to fully test it out and come up with some test scenarios so I can execute some runs, gather data, and finally finish writing the paper. Then all I have to do is give the paper to my committee and prepare to defend this thing.

Once all that is done it is one to making that walk across the stage. Maybe I'll do the Soulja Boy when they call my name, haha. I am really looking forward to finishing so I can haev some more free time in my life to be a bum. I'm sure I'll think about a Phd at some point, but not anytime soon. I need some time to be school free. Now that doesn't mean I won't be doing any exciting projects on my own. I mean, I am Black Dilbert for a reason...


So folks, that is what Black Dilbert has been up to lately. I'll be sure to post more often from now on.