First their was geo-centrism and then helio-centrism. I propose that we re-orient the software development universe around the idea of quality-centrism. Quality provides the gravity and controls the physics of how projects function.

1. Quality through the
lens of Astrophysics
Adam Goucher

2. Astrophysics
The branch of
astronomy that deals
with the physics of the
universe, including the
physical properties of
celestial objects as
well as their
interactions.

3. Quality
Value to some person
that matters through
their relationship with
our software or
service

4. The Celestial Bodies

5. Quality-centrism
The object at the
centre of the solar
system controls
everything around it
•Geo
•Helio
•Quality
Everything revolves
around Quality

6. The Golden Copy
•Everything of Value is
version controlled
•If it is not of Value,
why is it produced?
•Email is a not a
document
management solution

7. Developer Tests
•Test Driven
Development (TDD)
•Evolutionary design
•Ensure testability
•Regression security
blanket
•Fast! No disk, no
database

8. Continuous
Integration
•Thou shalt not break
the build
•Dynamic Tests
•Unit
•Functional
•Static Tests
•Bug patterns
•Conventions
•System of Record

9. Functional Testing
•Manual
•Mindmaps
•Checklists
•Exploration
•Automated
•Selenium
•Integration
•Performance

10. Monitoring
•Intelligent log
monitoring
•System heartbeat
•Host environment

11. Support
Client relationships do
not end at launch
Be:
•Proactive
•Ongoing
•Timely

12. Small Solar System
Bodies

13. Awesome
Organizations...
•Do one thing really
well
•Care
•Are trustworthy
•Are joyful

14. People...
•Have the right skills
•That are kept up to
date
•Are doing the right
things

15. The Physics
(or the glue that holds
everything together)

16. Communication
•Honest
•Open
•External
•Internal

17. Timeboxes
•Deliver Quickly
•Deliver Often
•Short(ish) since we
can’t predict the
future
•Have a clear
definition of Done
•Constant stream of
Value

18. Technical Debt
•Debt is a tool
•Use it wisely
•Eventually it needs to
be paid back

19. Realistic Expectations
•Bug free software is a
myth
•Just because all the
tests pass, doesn’t
mean all the bugs have
been found
•100% coverage does
not mean 100% tested

20. Data That Is
•Accurate
•Timely
•Relevant
Background photo by anastaza1a (http://www.flickr.com/photos/madomaratzki/2111541354/)