Software development team structure and skills
IT organizations can adapt software development team structure and skills to suit business needs or individual strengths. Learn how to structure DevOps and Agile teams, divvy up responsibilities, communicate with team members and keep everyone on the same page.
Top Stories
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Tip
04 Apr 2024
How to apply impact mapping to software with examples
Impact mapping can reduce scope creep and enable flexibility in the SDLC by creating a shared understanding among all stakeholders. Learn how to apply it to software projects. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Feb 2024
The importance of edge case testing: When to fix the bug
While edge cases in software testing only affect a small subset of users, testing for them is still important. Learn which edge fixes are worth making and which can be ignored. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Feb 2024
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) encourage companies to set, communicate and monitor organizational goals and results in an effective, transparent manner. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Dec 2023
Is Scrum master certification worth it?
Considering a Scrum master certification? Let's look at the considerations that factor into a decision to pursue certification and whether being a Scrum master benefits a career. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2023
citizen development
Citizen development is a business process that encourages non-IT-trained employees to become software developers, using IT-sanctioned low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms to create business applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2023
What's the value in an Agile release train?
When multiple development teams work on code, integration and deployment become more complicated. ART could be a useful tool to smooth out these wrinkles. Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2023
IT pros wary as Microsoft Copilot juggernaut gains steam
Microsoft is now 'The Copilot company,' along with GitHub. But concerns linger about the accuracy of AI-generated results, code lineage and long-term job security. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2023
Behind the scenes, Spotify's Backstage a work in progress
Spotify-created Backstage, now a CNCF project, is popular as enterprises add developer portals to internal platforms, but setup is hard, and getting dev buy-in can be even harder. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2023
The key role testing plays in a Three Amigos strategy
Because testers are skilled in asking questions and suggesting scenarios that lead to alternative workflows, they can be especially useful in Three Amigos efforts. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Oct 2023
Is continuous testing in DevOps worth the effort?
Continuous testing isn't simple to implement, but it can add exceptional business value to software development when done right. Here are the key elements. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Sep 2023
What does a developer advocate do?
Developer advocates have a special vantage point because they talk to -- and hear from --both the people who develop a particular software product and the people who use it. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2023
Google AI plans could spur low-code/no-code faceoff with AWS
Google's generative AI products play catch-up with Copilot and others, but the upcoming addition of Duet AI to AppSheet might fill a market gap as AWS scraps Honeycode. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Aug 2023
change request
A change request is a formal proposal for an alteration to some product or system. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Aug 2023
5 essential best practices for QA teams to adopt
Performing QA duties properly should mean more than checking lists of basic application requirements. Here are five ways software QA teams can improve review processes all around. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jul 2023
5 tips and career advice for young tech professionals
Want to be taken seriously as the youngest member of a tech team? Start networking, don't be afraid to ask questions and polish your communications skills. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Jul 2023
IT hiring picks up amid ongoing economic concerns
TechTarget's 2023 salary and careers survey shows most organizations are hiring for selected IT skills, making progress on DEI initiatives and offering workplace flexibility. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2023
What developers should know about working for a startup
Think you want to be a developer working at a startup? There are reasons it's appealing, but know what you're getting into, from workloads and resources to compensation options. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
More Scrum master certification exam questions
To pass the Professional Scrum master exam, you need to know the tricks. These Scrum master exam questions will show you how to answer even the toughest questions on the test. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
Scrum master certification exam questions and answers
Are you ready for the Scrum master certification exam? Test yourself on these 10 tough Scrum master exam questions and answers. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
More Scrum product owner certification exam questions
Want to get Scrum product owner-certified? These tough practice exam questions test your ability to apply the Scrum framework in the capacity of a Professional Scrum Product Owner. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
Scrum product owner certification exam questions and answers
Here are 10 tough sample Scrum product owner exam questions and answers to help gauge your readiness for the certification test. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 May 2023
Essential skills for data-centric developers
To become more data-driven, organizations need data-centric developers. Developers can learn a mix of technical and interpersonal skills to be an attractive candidate for the job. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2023
The enduring link between Conway's Law and microservices
While Conway's Law is a decades-old concept, some would argue that the industry's rush to adopt microservices makes this take on development team structure more relevant than ever. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Apr 2023
Mainframe modernization to AI apps: USPTO reinvents itself
How the US Patent and Trade Office, founded in 1802, maintained IT resilience while managing systems ranging from mainframes to the cloud, AI and beyond. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Mar 2023
Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps -- rebranded from Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) in 2018 -- is a software-as-a service (SaaS) platform from Microsoft designed to provide a comprehensive toolchain for developing and deploying software projects. Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
Oracle OKE takes on Azure, AWS with serverless Kubernetes
Oracle added serverless Kubernetes and a financially backed SLA to its OKE managed service, playing catch-up with AWS, Google and Azure and taking a swipe at them on pricing. Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2023
How ChatGPT and generative AI will affect IT operations
As generative AI programs improve, they raise questions for many engineering disciplines about the future of work -- and IT operations is no exception. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2023
Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely
Hired's annual software engineering study found that remote work is now a competitive hiring differentiator. It also found that younger engineers are at a greater risk of layoffs. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2023
10 open source coding books to read in 2023
Open source technology and programming languages are the foundation of modern software development. Use these books to take advantage of all that open source software has to offer. Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2023
CEO reflects on remote work, team-building amid Ukraine war
A GraphQL API management company is on track for an official launch in the coming months, despite a year of massive challenges for its developer team in Ukraine. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Feb 2023
Git
Git is an open source distributed version control system that is available for free under the GNU General Public License version 2. Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2023
GitHub to lay off 10% of workforce, sparks remote work debate
GitHub's plan to cut jobs and move to fully remote work sparks more discussion on whether remote workers will be first on the next tech chopping block. Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2023
Big tech layoffs may ease software engineer shortage
Recent layoffs will create an influx of software engineers on the job market in the coming months, which might benefit smaller enterprises searching for talent. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jan 2023
yak shaving
Yak shaving is programming lingo for the seemingly endless series of small tasks that have to be completed before the next step in a project can move forward. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2023
Make the shift-left testing approach work for your team
Developers test to find defects and correct flaws before an application reaches release. But the ever-quickening pace of development puts pressure on testing. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jan 2023
3 software developer goals that are top of mind in 2023
Like many people, software professionals have their own goals in mind for 2023, including a focus on project management, software accessibility and data structure decisions. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2023
CircleCI incident adds to SecOps toil
SaaS CI/CD vendor CircleCI urged customers to rotate all secrets data, the latest of several security breaches weighing on SecOps pros charged with responding. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2023
Micro credentials could stave off software engineer layoffs
Software developers can take measures to protect their jobs with micro credentials tailored to their company’s needs within hot trends such as cloud computing and AI. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Dec 2022
8 coding books to read in 2023
Coding books are a great learning resource for developers of all skill levels and backgrounds, offering authoritative and comprehensive coverage of a specific topic area. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2022
10 essential Scrum Master skills
From sprint planning to servant leadership, Scrum Masters help Agile developers, product owners and other team members perform at their best. Here's what makes a good Scrum Master. Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2022
Lego site vulnerabilities highlight API security gaps
What's old is new again: Lego site BrickLink was found vulnerable to cross-site scripting and other well-understood types of attacks, intensifying scrutiny on API security. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
Geek gifts 2022: Business travel essentials and music-making
For better or for worse, the world re-opened this year, renewing geeks' need for business travel accessories, while others sought to explore their musical creativity. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Dec 2022
What I learned at a 4-week Nucamp coding boot camp
Would a four-week web development coding boot camp designed by a Microsoft veteran provide me with enough skills to land a job? I was going to find out. Continue Reading
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News
01 Dec 2022
AWS DevOps tools expand low-code features, focus on devx
Many of the features of AWS CodeCatalyst and Application Composer were technically possible before, but the new services package them accessibly via a low-code UI. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Oct 2022
Fixing software developer burnout could increase retention
Software developer burnout is a pervasive issue that can cause problems for companies and their employees, but tackling it won't be easy. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2022
Tech for democracy gains traction but may pay lip service
The Copenhagen Pledge on Tech for Democracy highlights how tech can crumble or shore up democracy and human rights. But it lacks action and accountability, industry experts say. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Oct 2022
HubSpot DEI program shores up software engineer shortage
HubSpot has been building its DEI program for years, which includes in its hiring practices. By focusing on a more diverse talent pool, the company has found it can better manage the software engineer shortage. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2022
The role of the T-shaped software tester in modern dev
While a T-shaped tester delivers a powerful and specialized skill set, continuous learning should be an ongoing priority for all software team members. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Climate LLC taps feature flags for mobile app development
Feature flags facilitated fast rollbacks and trunk-based mobile development for a digital farming software maker amid volatility due to business growth and climate change. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Sep 2022
Globalization won't fix software engineer shortage
While a global talent search can fill niche positions and diversify a development team, it isn't a silver bullet for the software engineer shortage, experts say. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Sep 2022
The major differences between QA and SDETs
How do SDET and QA roles differ? The similar positions both focus on code testing, but it's their unique focuses that makes them a valuable part of an Agile team. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2022
Make quality a priority in your software engineering culture
A software team needs quality to ensure a strong product. Here are some ways to implement quality in all facets of development and build it into every software release. Continue Reading
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Podcast
25 Jul 2022
The awkward state of the remote vs. in-person work debate
TechTarget senior news writer Beth Pariseau discusses return-to-work initiatives for IT pros and in-person tech conferences coming back onto the schedule. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2022
Important DevOps engineer programming languages to learn
We've learned that DevOps demands some code knowledge -- but there are a lot of languages to choose from. Think about CI/CD, object-oriented languages and infrastructure as code. Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2022
Software developers need more than coding skills
Employers are increasingly looking for software developers with soft skills, including time management and the ability to work on a team. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Mar 2022
Why a successful software tester's skillset is more than just technical
How can you become a good software tester? It requires more than just technical expertise. Here are some important personality traits QA pros need to have. Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2022
NPM 'protestware' raises questions on open source security
The deliberate sabotage of an NPM package to protest war in Ukraine worsens the already complex threat of software supply chain attacks, open source and security experts said. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Dec 2021
Skills and responsibilities in a QA engineer role
According to Emily Thomas, a QA engineer at VoIP provider Vonage, effective quality assurance involves far more than just skillful testing. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Oct 2021
New Scrum Master guide covers both theory and practice
In his new book, a senior software engineer shares his in-depth hands-on knowledge to both prep readers for cert exams and guide them on the job. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Sep 2021
trunk-based development
In software development, a trunk is the base code into which all subsequent code is merged. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jun 2021
What are an SDET's roles and responsibilities?
A QA professional remains essential to the creation of quality software, while a software development engineer in test adds a different layer to the process. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2021
How software testing certifications can boost your career
How can software testing certifications give QA professionals a leg up in their careers? Learn how in this overview, as well as what certification types testers should consider. Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2021
Pulumi cloud engineering boosts dev infrastructure control
A Pulumi early adopter says this week's cloud engineering update will save time and resource costs with more support for developers to test infrastructure-as-code plans locally. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Mar 2021
AWS helps train formerly incarcerated people to code
The Justice Through Code program, which Amazon sponsors, teaches formerly incarcerated individuals how to write code in Python as it preps them for careers in the tech industry. Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2021
Lyft helps drive new foundation for mobile developers
The Linux Foundation, along with Lyft, wants mobile developers to ride together and help eliminate obstacles in building large-scale, enterprise Android and iOS apps. Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
IBM extends Call for Code for Racial Justice program
IBM, in conjunction with the Linux Foundation, has delivered two additional projects to its Call for Code for Racial Justice program. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
AWS Dev Hour focuses on cloud-native app building
Amazon is set to launch a new training program on its Twitch service called AWS Dev Hour: Building Modern Applications. The series targets developers building cloud-native apps. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2021
IBM tackles racial justice in Call for Code hackathon
IBM has issued a Call for Code for applications that help promote racial justice in an attempt to combat systemic racism. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Dec 2020
Top 10 software development and test tips of 2020
What can you do better in 2021? Adopt different test tools, automate more processes, run a more productive dev team? Follow this advice from various experts to make it all happen. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Dec 2020
5 examples of ethical issues in software development
As software becomes entrenched in every aspect of the human experience, developers have an ethical responsibility to their customers. Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Dec 2020
How to use Agile swarming techniques to get features done
Agile teams can produce a viable product in no time when they swarm, but this all-hands approach to produce a user story or feature isn't easy. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Nov 2020
Software development outsourcing throughout the lifecycle
Whether to accelerate a project or overcome a particular skills gap, it might make sense to engage an external specialist to bolster your software development efforts. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Nov 2020
7 keys to a successful diversity and inclusion initiative
Today's workforce is calling for a stop to bias and prejudice, and business and HR leaders need to take effective action. Here's a look at diversity initiative best practices. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Nov 2020
IBM's Lisa Seacat DeLuca on being a woman in the tech industry
IBM's master inventor Lisa Seacat DeLuca gives insight into promoting gender diversity. Learn why both official programs and informal outreach are so important. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2020
3 dramatic ways to increase developer productivity
Developers work best when distractions are at a minimum, yet most organizations simply aren't doing their part to reduce them. Be brave and try these three aggressive methods. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Sep 2020
Why development team membership should change regularly
Static development teams might be hurting your company. But too much reorganization can cause chaos. Here's how to strike a balance that keeps teams engaged and innovative. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Aug 2020
5 SMART goals for a QA analyst
QA testers can earn respect and gain influence with peers through SMART goals. Take ownership of the software you work on, look up to good product managers and achieve these five goals. Continue Reading
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Infographic
10 Aug 2020
IT staffing trends evolve during a trying 2020
Surveys indicate few IT pros should be concerned about layoffs due to COVID-19. But other factors, such as reskilling, training and the new WFH reality, are having a profound effect. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Aug 2020
Agile FAQ: Get started with these Agile basics
Check out these tips on Agile basics for a quick catch-up or a great head start on maximizing the value of using Agile methods in your organization. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 May 2020
Virtual software development and testing conferences to attend
Yes, you're stuck at home, but developers and testers can actually learn more for less money than in the past. Connect with dev and test experts at these virtual conferences. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
29 Apr 2020
5 best practices for remote development teams
More developers than ever now work from home and must quickly adapt to remote life. Our experts explain how to proactively support the isolated members of your development team. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Apr 2020
5 ways to empower remote development teams
It's hard to maintain productivity when you work from home. Take up these remote dev and test practices to keep software projects on track despite the obstacles. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Apr 2020
Deal with remote software testing challenges
Is your software QA team new to remote work? Learn what technical, process and culture challenges you will encounter, and how to surpass them to ensure quality. Continue Reading
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News
03 Apr 2020
IBM Call for Code unleashes developers on COVID-19
IBM's Call for Code competition wants developers to create applications that help communities deal with and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2020
Developers vie for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure certs
Oracle hopes to attract new developers to its cloud platform with its new developer certification for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, as it trails AWS, Microsoft and Google in market share. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2020
3 reasons testers need a QA manager in Agile
Agile teams without a QA manager prioritize developers' perspectives -- even to the software's detriment. Here are three ways in which a QA manager offers value to Agile teams, and how they support testers. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
31 Jan 2020
Organize your team with an Agile scaling frameworks comparison
It's not easy to get Agile right, let alone replicate an individual team's success. For enterprises looking for a wide-scale transition, an Agile scaling framework might do the trick. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2020
IBM expands patent troll fight with its massive IP portfolio
IBM has contributed more than 80,000 patents to the LOT Network, a group of more than 600 companies that IBM has joined to fight patent trolls and their often frivolous lawsuits. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2020
How user story mapping aids requirements gathering in Agile
Agile requirements are dynamic, not static. Collaborate on user story maps to make sense of frequently evolving customer needs, and put a Scrum Master at the center of it all. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Dec 2019
6 key ways to improve developer productivity
Unproductive dev teams aren't necessarily staffed by unskilled or unmotivated workers. Give developers a boost with these concrete strategies, not strict mandates or inspirational posters. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Dec 2019
How to train junior developers in 5 steps
Junior developers thrive on trust and training -- even if you're wary of the former and have little time for the latter. Here's how to get inexperienced programmers tuned up fast. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2019
5 vital QA skills for software testers
As testing extends throughout the SDLC, QA engineers do much more than execute a quick functionality check. Pick up these skills to ensure an effective, team-wide approach to quality. Continue Reading
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Podcast
04 Nov 2019
Why it's time to take IT burnout seriously
Disengaged or apathetic employees are a sign of weak culture -- not weak people. In this podcast, Dr. Christina Maslach shares what IT job burnout looks like and how to address it. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Aug 2019
Try these 5 team-building activities for software developers
Whether it's a soft skills workshop, simulated outage exercise or in-house tech conference, these one-day events get dev teams out of a coding rut. Plan yours now. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Aug 2019
10 skills of highly effective software testers
QA professionals with hands-on experience and a mix of technical and soft skills offer great value for software engineering teams. Testers with these 10 skills can boost their careers. Continue Reading
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Guide
19 Aug 2019
How to create a successful DevOps organizational structure
To build a DevOps organizational structure for speed and quality, align various skill sets with shared goals -- a process that requires a revolution, or evolution, of the status quo. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jul 2019
How to choose cross-platform mobile development tools
Cross-platform development tools help organizations build apps for a variety of users and devices. But where to start? Learn what types of tools fit which situations. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Jul 2019
How to meet QA responsibilities during a software tester shortage
An organization facing a dire shortage of QA engineers can't just dump these tasks on developers. Here's how to keep up software quality with limited QA resources. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jul 2019
Get started with native Windows mobile app development
There are pros and cons to embarking on Windows mobile app development. Find out if developing natively in Windows is right for your company. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jul 2019
Fit iOS development tools into your app dev approach
There are pros and cons to going full bore into iOS development tools. Find out if developing natively in iOS is worth the extra cost and effort. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jul 2019
Pros and cons of Android app development tools
There are pros and cons to embarking on native Android app development. Find out if implementing an Android dev tool is right for your company. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jun 2019
How to make distributed Agile teams efficient and collaborative
Agile teams don't always exist under one roof, but they should still be aligned in responsibilities and goals. Here's the best way to approach global Agile team management. Continue Reading