Post AVczaaPlUew5zmgMM4 by nf@mastodon.sdf.org
 (DIR) More posts by nf@mastodon.sdf.org
 (DIR) Post #AVczaaPlUew5zmgMM4 by nf@mastodon.sdf.org
       2023-05-13T23:33:52Z
       
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       Did a big refactor/rewrite of parts of a key service at #work but was stalling on updating the tests. Turned out it was because the tests were too annoying to write.So I solved a sub-problem by writing a helper for creating and verifying the contents of database tables. It allows me to clearly specify the intended contents of a table by writing it as tabular plain text. (I even wrote an auto-formatter that reflows such string literals, keeping it all neat.)And then I wrote good tests. 😇
       
 (DIR) Post #AVczabRDgjh5AaN2GG by nf@mastodon.sdf.org
       2023-05-13T23:36:49Z
       
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       I’m hoping to open source this and some of the other bespoke stuff I’ve built over the past few years. It’s a bit tricky though because the difference between “a tool that solves my specific team’s problems” and “a tool that can help solve a lot of people’s problems” is not insignificant, and I’m not fond of releasing open source software that I have no time to maintain. Maybe I could write a series of articles about the design of it all that may inspire others to build tools of their own.
       
 (DIR) Post #AVczac4vJ7S99iwk9A by nf@mastodon.sdf.org
       2023-05-13T23:41:08Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       Or maybe what I should write about is the general tool-building philosophy that permeates all of the work I do. Working with more junior devs I find a lot of them don’t think to build things to make their life easier- that tools are things that are made by other people.The amazing fractal nature of software development makes the construction of bespoke tools both easy and incredibly powerful. It’d an essential part of the process, and for me one of the most stimulating and rewarding parts.