LongTimeColleagues

I had requested review for a presentation. DaveSmith, our wiki host and long-time reviewer for me, replied that he would review. Dave reviewed my very first public writing, back when I requested review about ten years ago on the comp.software-eng newsgroup (a group I no longer read). Dave has reviewed numerous works for me over the years, and his reviews are quite valuable to me. I have other long-time reviewers: JamesBach, EstherDerby, DonGray, SherryHeinze, NaomiKarten, DwaynePhillips, JerryWeinberg to name just a few. I hope I haven't left anyone long-time out.

I find immeasurable value in the fact that they are long-time reviewers. Because they've reviewed for me so often, I can anticipate their responses while I'm writing. I don't always fix the writing well, but sometimes I do :-) I can hear them talking to me when I edit. I'm a much better writer for their influence.

Do you have long-time colleagues who have affected your work? How have they influenced your work? -- JohannaRothman 2004.01.29

Jerry reports a similar phenomena in his research on the effectiveness of technical reviews. After participating in reviews for awhile, programmers begin to anticipate the issues, and imagining the what various reviewers would say about their code. (I don't have the exact reference off the top of my head. I think it was in STQE a couple of years ago.)

This is part of the reason reviews improve the general capability in organization.

I have a highly valued group of long term reviewers, too. When I write I have a little image of DwaynePhillips gently saying "Whatch the 'gets'" ... Thanks to Dwayne, I no longer over use the word "get" in my writing. (He's helped me with many other things as well.)

EstherDerby 01302004

I find something similar with developers who have worked with testers for a while. They anticipate issues that we are likely to raise. Even better, sometimes they talk to us while they are designing the code and prevent problems from occurring.

SherryHeinze 2004.01.30

Like any form of testing, the deepest value of reviewing is not finding errors (which is nice), nor telling us what's good enough to keep (which is also nice), nor even suggesting things to put in (which is lovely). It's the learning we get (from both reviewing and being reviewed) that stays with us, just as our long-time colleagues stay with us.

The AYE Conference, now going into its fifth year, is beginning to develop some terrific long-time colleague relationshiips. To me, that is it's greatest benefit. - JerryWeinberg 2004.02.02 (Happy Ground Hog Day!)

Updated: Wednesday, February 4, 2004