Gray's Matter | Boardroom Confessions...With Love, Episode 01

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Boardroom Confessions...With Love, Episode 01

Aug 17

by Justice~! Technical

Anonymous Developer A: "So, Get Latest Version is broken"

Anonymous Incredibly Handsome Metrosexual Developer: "Excuse me?"

"Get Latest Version from Team Foundation Server. It's broken - we get build errors once we retrieve from the repository"

"I seem to remember Cruise Control sending us an E-mail this morning stating that the build was broken because someone did a check-in with a syntax error. Did that get fixed yet? Could that be the problem?"

"[name withheld] says that this isn't the issue, it's Get Latest Version. Besides, we can't trust Cruise Control - TFS is broken on check-ins as well."

"Check-ins are broken too?"

"Yeah, sometimes we add a file to TFS but TFS doesn't *really* add the file. Or we get a defect rejected because we asked TFS to check-in a file but TFS doesn't really check in the file."

"So you're telling me that Get Latest Version, Add File, and Check In Pending Changes are *all* broken."

"Yes, and merging too. We have to lock the files when we check out because TFS merging doesn't work, it just overwrites changes for no reason."

"Wow, that is weird. [Awesome Anonymous Developer] and I have been helping on this project with you guys for three weeks. We've had to add files almost every time we've checked in, with no problems with the build *or* with resolving defects. We have even managed to *merge* files without catastrophe. There can only be one of two explanations for this miraculous occurence:

a) TFS isn't actually broken; it's just that [Awesome Anonymous Developer] and I have figured out how to use TFS

b) every possible function of source control in TFS is broken, but [AAD] and I possess magical powers.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put on my robe and wizard hat so I can see what's going on with the build."

Comments

#1 Ben W on 8/17/2007 2:45:07 PM

I think your TFS is experiencing PEBKAC errors. You should look into it.

#2 Shane C on 8/17/2007 2:53:52 PM

Suddenly my day to day drudgery just seems a whole lot better.

#3 Justice on 8/17/2007 3:33:14 PM

Ben - that is absolutely HYSTERICAL. I am totally stealing that to use whenever I need to. ;)

#4 Justice on 8/17/2007 3:37:22 PM

What, you mean to tell me that your "My job is the greatest job EEEEEEEEVEEEEER" feeling has faded away? Donald will be heartbroken!!! ;)

Actually, this situation isn't too bad, this one is a tempoarary "ninja coder" couple of weeks assignment so I can evaluate why one project is behind the others. I think from reading this conversation you get an idea as to part of the reason...=)

#5 Shane C on 8/17/2007 3:44:33 PM

Hahha.. well it still ranks up there as the best job I've had up to date.. but how much refactoring can one man do?!? At least I've got smart people I can bounce ideas off of..

And what are you doing taking time to respond.. Shouldn't you be looking into these obvious deficiencies with TFS?

#6 Ben W on 8/17/2007 4:03:29 PM

Shane I thought you knew, Justice can Post on a blog while debugging code and spinning 3 plates on a stick with his toes. Hes just that good ;)

#7 Justice on 8/17/2007 4:05:13 PM

Hell, I'm doing it right now! ;)

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