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- R.P. Churchill on TWSL Series 07: Discovery and Data Collection
- R.P. Churchill on A Simulationist’s Framework for Business Analysis: Round Two
- LN on A Simulationist’s Framework for Business Analysis: Round Two
- R.P. Churchill on Starting to Learn About the Java Memory Model
- R.P. Churchill on Multidimensional Arrays in Javascript
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Author Archives: R.P. Churchill
Three Plates of Spaghetti
Spaghetti is great for a meal but not so much for code. I’ve had to deal with three major plates of spaghetti code in my career. Here’s how they went and what I learned. I got to write all my … Continue reading
Listen, Listen, Listen
I’ve heard it said that you can learn from anyone, but you can only do that if you actually listen to them. If they aren’t talking, ask. Even if you choose not to take anyone’s suggestions they’re likely to be … Continue reading
What Do You Just “See”?
One of my cousins is a totally extroverted, outgoing “superconnecter”. She is all people, all the time. She’s been everything from a restaurant hostess to a greeter and mascot’s assistant at Pittsburgh Pirates games to a small businesswoman with multiple … Continue reading
An Effective Framework for Verification, Validation, and Accreditation
I recently encountered a formal methodology for conducting VV&A efforts that I think is worthy of your consideration. Briefly, Verification shows whether a system works as specified, Validation shows whether the specification addresses the correct problem, and Accreditation shows whether … Continue reading
The Greatest Field Improvisation Ever
When I was working on a furnace control system in Thailand I witnessed one of the coolest feats of engineering ever. The field service guy needed to measure the flow of gasses and a manometer was nowhere to be found. … Continue reading
How Not to Miss Things in a Discovery Process
I’ve been part of a lot of discovery efforts and have found a few ways to increase the chances of identifying all the relevant factors. I plan to discuss these only informally. Volumes of ink and electrons have been spilled … Continue reading
Building Tools
Most generally, a tool is a means of accomplishing some end. If one uses the right tool for the job it is a more efficient and effective means than other alternatives. Naturally we’re always trying to use the optimal tool. … Continue reading
Calculus… or Statistics?
Most roads in mathematics instruction seem to lead to calculus before any but the most basic statistics. Many statistical techniques require calculus to derive, but it isn’t usually necessary, short of advanced or novel applications, to know calculus when applying … Continue reading
Be Honest When Things Go Wrong
One of the important lessons I learned at my first engineering job was to be honest and open at all times. This was never illustrated more clearly than when a refiner disc flew apart, tore through the pressurized refiner casing, … Continue reading
Embedding Documentation and References
Documentation has traditionally been maintained separately from but in parallel to software systems as they’ve been implemented and maintained. Keeping the documentation in sync with an evolving system is a well-known challenge. Documentation itself comes in many forms and even … Continue reading