JUnit 4.4 looks interesting

I've only just started taking a look at JUnit 4.4 and it looks like there are quite a number of new interesting features.

It looks like they've added support for the assertThat([value], [matcher statement]) Joe Walnes described back in 2005.

There's also support for Assumptions and Theories inspired by the Popper project, of which I haven't heard of before. The general idea seems to be that you can run the same test against multiple data points and set Assumptions to filter data that is or isn't relevant to the particular Theory.

A history lesson on what is SOA

Via Patrick Logan,

Pete Lacey on What is SOA?

8 elements of dysfunctional management

Via The Fifth Discipline, the eight basic elements of the "prevailing system of management":

• Management by measurement (especially short-term metrics and ignoring intangibles)
• Compliance-based cultures (pleasing the boss, managing by fear)
• Managing outcomes (being held accountable for management targets that are not possible given existing systems and process)
• Having "right" vs "wrong" answers (emphasising specific vs systemic problem solving)
• Uniformity (suppressing diversity and conflict to create a superficial unified front)
• Predictability and controllability (management is planning, organising, and controlling)
• Excessive competitiveness and distrust (competition is seen as superior to cooperation)
  
• Loss of the whole (local innovation does not spread)
  

The only career question that matters

Do you get to do what you do best every day?

Apparently, this is what Gallup asks when studying workers.

Bring me problems whether you have a solution or not

John Hunter on the whole "bring me solutions, not problems" nonsense:

What they are saying is: if you know of a problem but don’t know of a solution I would rather have my company continue to have that problem than admit some of my staff don’t know how to fix it (and then have to deal with it myself - maybe then having to accept responsibility for results instead of just blaming you if I am never told and there is a problem later…).

The only consistency that matters

Signal vs Noise posts about an iPhone update that demonstrates designing for context over consistency.

Thanks to Bruce Tognazzini, I would describe this instead as designing to be consistent with user expectation, which is the only consistency that matters.