Christmas soon, and every year the same concern: what gifts to offer? Ideally, the one that will please most and that will not ruin us.
I was on a forum trying to find information about an MP3 player when a post caught my attention: someone had a problem with a game console and asked if replacing the faulty component would extend the life of the console.
I was surprised: I did not know you could even replace a component on a console. If some component on your PC fails, you change the motherboard. And most often, you end up completely changing the machine if it is a bit old. Beyond 3 years of age, it becomes difficult to find spare parts, and in any case, it is often more attractive financially to buy a newer model. Continue reading →

Following the previous post What is the first question ? about the two major questions concerning application quality – costs vs. risks – someone asked if there were some processes or best practices that contribute to these two objectives.

Is there a “best of both worlds” way to produce free defect software without exceeding budget and schedule? Continue reading →

I work with some providers who sometimes call me when one of their customers has a problem with an application.

What is the first question you ask in a meeting with a customer?

• Which technologies in your application ?
• Is it a big application ?
• Is this application complex ?

No. I see that every time. And this is a natural reaction: first, qualify the application. Sure, you want to know if you can adress the needs of this customer. Sure, your partner looks to evaluate what could be the size of a possible deal. Continue reading →