NCrunch

I am back!  OK I really didn't go anywhere I just haven't posted anything in a long time.

So thanks to my buddy Dan, I am going to rave about a new tool called NCrunch.

NCrunch is an automated parallel continuous testing tool.

Holy cow what does that mean?

Well it means that after installing the plugin, Visual Studio will continuously run your unit tests, or any tests you tell it to run.  It will also place indicator dots on every line of code indicating if that line of code is covered by a test and if so if that test is passing.  These dots also give you performance indications as well so you can easily find areas in your methods that run a little slow.

I know what you are saying, I already can run unit tests and find coverage out of the box.  True, and I was skeptical at first as well, but after using NCrunch for one week I am amazed.  I only have to type code and the indicators update automatically.  I do not have to compile, I do not have to run anything myself.  I don't have to wait.  I get instant feedback from tests, and I save time.

Did I mention the tool makes me feel guilty?  Now when I open up a class and see black dots, or white in my case since you can customize the indicator colors, I feel guilty that there are no tests covering the class and the first thing I do is figure out how to write some useful unit tests.  As I write the dots turn Red then to green, assuming the code was correct.

A couple drawbacks, NCrunch still does not work with Silverlight test projects or Silverlight UI projects.  If you have tests that rely on these type of projects then you can tell the tool to ignore them.  I would also recommend ignoring specification tests that invoke the UI, like Specflow with Selenium.

Configuration of the tool is simple with the built in wizard.  you can tell it how many processors to use and if tests should be run in asynchronously or not.

Cost, of Ncrunch.net is currently free.  However judging by the website once they release version 1.0 there will be cost to the tool.  I have a feeling like resharper I will not be able to live with out it.

Now to the screenshots

Untested Code Indicator Dots

Tested Passing Code Indicator Dots

Random

So I haven't blogged lately mostly because I haven't done anything really cool lately to discuss.

That said here are some random things....

Some good sites.

StackOverflow is a site I love. I really don't ask or answer a lot of questions but I do read many. It is very informative. It is odd when you interview people and ask them where they go on the internet to look for help and very few people mention this site, until you ask them about it.

IWantMyMVC is another fun site. I really haven't used a lot from it but I like how they show good ways to solve problems in the asp.net MVC.

Another place I have been going on the web is here and here. I love my new windows phone 7.

Well that is it for now. More to come soon, I promise.

We Are Hiring

Take a look at the StackOverflow ad for more details. We're hiring 2 Senior developers and 2 Junior developers (and more: QA, BA, and a GUI developer). It's a fun environment with a strong technical team, so we're looking to keep the team strong. If you're around the Milwaukee area and are interested in more details, let me know.

Scrum Master

Monday July 18th and Tuesday July 19th I attended Srum Master Training.

Going in I was excited at the opportunity to learn more about Scrum and to become a better Scrum Master which is on of three roles in the Scrum process. I just recently took on this role part time. Although I have been doing scrum for for 5 years, I have always been part of the team role.

At the training I learned a lot. I enjoyed the mini games and group activities we did to help show how agile ideas can help improve managing change and unknowns. I also like how it broke down all the roles and responsibilities. I like the ideas of self organizing teams, and that the traditional conflict project manager face are separated by the scrum triangle.

Yesterday I finally took the scrum master certification exam, and passed with flying colors. I only got one question wrong. So yes it is official I am certifiable!

All in all it was a great time and now the next challenge is improving our process where I work.