Why?

[Cergorach]

Hehehe... *keeps on chuckling*

Way to go Sm!rk my man ;-)

Smetzer, you have a big mouth, care to put your coding zkillz where your mouth is? Go talk to the PcGen folks, they could use your help and we would appreciate a bug free PcGen. If not, shut up. I know that bugfree code can be written, just not in a realistic budget. If you think differently, fine, but apperently you've never made anything more complex than Sm!rk just wrote and tested it on more than a couple of dozen configurations...

 

[AegisEversoaring]

Re: Re: Software Test person speaks up...

How does one break into that racket?

Be very persistent! It also helps if you live close to a game developer. Be prepared to work for free (or for pizza, or for free game copies). Then after you manage to get in good with the development team, someone will suggest to put you on the payroll.
Testers usually start out with another goal in mind in their career (programmer, artist, game design), and use the testing gig to get them inside the industry. Once you are in, you are in for life. The whole PC/Console game industry is filled with people who used to work together, so make contacts and friends, and make your way to the top!

Vaughn

 

[Nathanael]

Actually, Sm!rk, there is a bug in your programme.

You misspelled 'Hello.'

You should fire your beta-testers and QA people for letting that one slip...

 

[smetzger]

Hehehe... *keeps on chuckling*

Way to go Sm!rk my man ;-)

Smetzer, you have a big mouth, care to put your coding zkillz where your mouth is? Go talk to the PcGen folks, they could use your help and we would appreciate a bug free PcGen. If not, shut up. I know that bugfree code can be written, just not in a realistic budget. If you think differently, fine, but apperently you've never made anything more complex than Sm!rk just wrote and tested it on more than a couple of dozen configurations...

I wrote the first 3rd party 3e software. I have been writing software for D&D since @1985. I am currently re-writing my 2e RogueGenerator program for 3e.

Have I ever written bug free software? I believe so.

Will RogueGenerator be bug free? That is my goal. I won't release it, even for alpha testing, with a known bug.

Let me define a software bug. Program behavior or functionality that is contrary to the requirements.

I just hope the software developers that write and design software for airplanes, manned space programs, vehicle crash avoidance systems, and military automated weapon systems have the same software philosophy as me.

 

[Cergorach]

On how many different systems and configurations did you test your software? 100+ different combos? More? Tried is on WinNT4.0 release 3917 with a microgrfX 2MB (video card driver 3x.7)?

No offense, but is your software as complex as E-Tools, PcGen, RPM, DMFamiliar, CampaignSuite )or any other such program i forgot)? I think not, otherwise i would have listed it here. More complex software creates a greater possibility of bugs.

Do you have any idea how increadibly expensive flight software is? It goes trough thousands and thousands of manhours worth of testing, the most insane tests, etc. It also has an increadible amount of backups upon backups. But you might remember the Airbus debacle, that's a good example of software bugs in airplanes...

 

[smetzger]

No offense, but is your software as complex as E-Tools, PcGen, RPM, DMFamiliar, CampaignSuite )or any other such program i forgot)? I think not, otherwise i would have listed it here. More complex software creates a greater possibility of bugs.

My 2e RogueGenerator is more complex than e-tools( I just never got to finish it) and I have written much more complex software professionally.

I never said it was easy. I am saying that my philosophy is that it is possible and my goal is to produce bug free software. And unless a software engineer has that philosophy and goal he will never produce bug free software.

 

[Sm!rk]

Actually, Sm!rk, there is a bug in your programme.
You misspelled 'Hello.'
You should fire your beta-testers and QA people for letting that one slip...

That one was on purpose, wisdom within wisdom. The program worked perfectly, except it still wasn't right.



Smet, what did this rogue generator do and why do you think its more complex than pcgen and etools? Both of those apps can make rogues in addition to a bunch of other classes.

Also, and this is something of an axiom in software world, 80% of the product takes 20% of the time, and the final 20% of the product takes 80% of the time. If you never finished this thing you are talking about then you never even approached that final 20%. I wouldn't compare something that was never finished to two finished and usable products.

 

[smetzger]

Smet, what did this rogue generator do and why do you think its more complex than pcgen and etools? Both of those apps can make rogues in addition to a bunch of other classes.

The Rogue part is a reference to a certain 1e product. It is a very customizable and house rules friendly random NPC generator and character maintaner program. The most complex thing that the 2e version allowed you to do was completly define how spell points worked (if you decided to use spell points). Plus everything, including the random settings, is stored in the database. I didn't say it was more complex than PCGen. I actually haven't seen e-tools so I am just guessing that my program is more complex. However, given that 3e is alot more computer freindly than 2e and e-tools does not completly put all settings in the database.

The main reason that I didn't complete the 2e version was lack of time. I only work on my shareware about 5 hrs per week (during lunch). I have a full time job, 3 kids, I move every 2-3 years, and I actually play D&D.