Austin Style Code Dojo

Here in Austin, Texas, we’ve just started weekly dojos. Our dojo style is similar to Randoori, but without pairing (instead of pairs, we’re all one set).  In Randoori terms, we use something similar to Ping Pong.

The flow goes like this: One of the coders writes a failing test.  Lately we’ve discussed the proper API in detail during this step.  I think we’re trying to learn the wisdom of proper test structure.

Once the test fails, that person sits down, and someone else goes to the keyboard.  That person solves the test, does any refactoring, and writes a failing test.  Then they pass the keyboard.

It continues like that, with each person doing “Fix it.  Refactor. Break it.  Pass Keyboard”.

We’ve been working in very small groups of about 3-5.  In that size, everyone sees what’s going on and gets a chance to drive.  We don’t have a projector, which isn’t too bad since the groups are small. (But if someone wants to lend us one, it could be useful.)

We allow discussions and suggestions and comments at any time (not just on a green bar), but the rule is “the person at the keyboard is supreme dictator”.  They can choose to ignore everyone else, or go with whatever suggestion they choose.

We’re still working out the bumps, but we seem to have a good system going.  If you’re in Austin and have a Monday evening free, come join us at Genuine Joe’s Coffeehouse from 8 – 10 pm.

What comes next after TDD katas?

What comes next after TDD katas?  UI Testing?  Mocks?  Design Patterns?

I’ve been doing TDD katas and dojos for a while now, and I think I’ve learned the first lesson.  I know the cadence of “break it, fix it, refactor”.  I understand Baby Steps and The Simplest Thing That Could Possible Work.  I get the importance of test choice in guiding the evolution of design.

So what’s my next lesson?  What’s the next thing the katas and dojos can teach me?  Maybe I need to figure out how to test UIs, and how to make testable UIs. The Humble Dialog Box may provide insight and direction there.  A coworker suggested that I need to learn mocks, maybe JMock or RhinoMocks.  I think there’s a kata in there somewhere.  I’ve tried the Publish/Subscribe example from JMock, but that feels too simple, a Hello World of JMock.  What’s a more complex kata that needs mocks to solve?  Or maybe I need to find a way to incorporate Design Patterns into my solutions.  So far I’ve evolved very simple designs, so they haven’t needed Design Patterns.

So what’s the next lesson to learn from code katas?  I know there’s a lesson in there somewhere, and I feel like I’m on the verge of learning it.  What is that lesson?

What Matters in a Dojo?

We in the Austin Code Dojo have been doing weekly dojos for four weeks now, in Genuine Joe Coffeehouse in North Austin, Texas. We’ve been learning a lot in these sessions.  Here are some of my notes.  These mostly talk about what matters in a dojo.  What are the important things we’re doing and why are we doing things this way?

First Weekly Community Dojo on Monday

We’re going to hold a Dojo this Monday at Genuine Joe Coffeehouse in Austin.

A dojo is a coding practice session, an instance of deliberate practice.  We work through a simple coding problem TDD style.  After talking through the problem description, someone writes one failing test.  Then another person gets the keyboard, solves the test, refactors, and writes the next failing test.  Then they pass the keyboard and repeat.

Austin Code Dojo

Monday, June 21, 2010
8pm to 10pm

Genuine Joe Coffeehouse
2001 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757

Cost: free, but please buy some drinks and/or food from the Coffeehouse

We don’t have a projector yet, so if someone can borrow one from their work, or if someone owns one, that’d be great.

Dojo in a Community Ed Class

I’m interested in having a regular Coding Dojo that I attend, and I think setting up a community ed “class” would be a great way to organize it.