Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
58
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3 answers

If GitHub interacts with Git, and Git is licensed under GPLv2, shouldn't GitHub be open source?

Since Git is licensed under GPLv2, and, to my understanding, GitHub interacts with Git, shouldn't the whole GitHub codebase be open-sourced in a GPL-compatible license?
GBF_Gabriel
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58
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8 answers

Are events only used for GUI programming?

Are events only used for GUI programming? How do you handle in normal backend programming when something happens to this other thing?
user3093620
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8 answers

Should a developer do UI mockups if there are no designers in the project?

I'm working with a small team that creates a proprietary web application and UX isn't much of a priority since our own people will be the ones operating it, but we do try to make their jobs easier. Should I, as a developer, create a UI mockup…
PentaKon
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9 answers

How to write unit tests before refactoring?

I've read some answers to questions along a similar line such as "How do you keep your unit tests working when refactoring?". In my case the scenario is slightly different in that I've been given a project to review and bring in line with some…
PDStat
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8 answers

How can we be certain that the lower components of computer programming like compilers, assemblers, machine instructions, etc. are flawless?

Since we are becoming more and more reliant on computing, including very critical tasks of day-to-day life, I was just wondering how those vital components are tested. More technically, how are the compilers and assemblers tested? (I suppose this…
Sudip Bhandari
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58
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6 answers

Illusory code duplication

The usual instinct is to remove any code duplication that you see in the code. However, I found myself in a situation where the duplication is illusory. To describe the situation in more details: I am developing a web application, and most views are…
Mael
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58
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4 answers

What happens if a feature merged into develop is postponed by management?

We recently had a problem whereby a feature for our webapp (automatic signup) was postponed by management because they felt the start was too "cold" but they wanted all the other features we had been working on to go live. The problem is that this…
Calin Leafshade
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58
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22 answers

Do you actually write 'clean code'?

I have seen some programmers tweaking their code over and over again not only to make it 'work good', but also to make it 'look good'. IMO, 'clean code' is actually a compliment indicating your code is elegant, perfectly understandable and…
ykombinator
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58
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10 answers

Are SMART goals useful for programmers?

Several organisations I know use SMART goals for their programmers. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. They are fairly common in large corporations. My own prior experience with SMART goals has not…
Craig Schwarze
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58
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10 answers

Why was the Itanium processor difficult to write a compiler for?

It's commonly stated that Intel's Itanium 64-bit processor architecture failed because the revolutionary EPIC instruction set was very difficult to write a good compiler for, which meant a lack of good developer tools for IA64, which meant a lack of…
Mason Wheeler
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58
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2 answers

Is performance the only reason not to use SignalR (websockets) entirely in lieu of a traditional REST API?

I have used SignalR to achieve real-time messaging functionality in several of my projects. It seems to work reliably and is very easy to learn to use. The temptation, at least for me, is to abandon developing a Web API service and use SignalR for…
tacos_tacos_tacos
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58
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5 answers

What does "context-free" mean in the term "context-free grammar"?

Given the amount of material that tries to explain what a context-free grammar (CFG) is, I found it surprising that very few (in my sample, less than 1 in 20) give an explanation on why such grammars are called "context-free". And, to my mind, none…
rick
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58
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12 answers

What programming language generates fewest hard-to-find bugs?

What language, in your opinion, allows the average programmer to output features with the least amount of hard-to-find bugs? This is of course, a very broad question, and I'm interested in very broad and general answers and wisdoms. Personally I…
Magnus Wolffelt
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58
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7 answers

Solo developer vs. team developer : should I move on?

I work as a solo developer in a small company. There's more than enough work, but the same does not apply for money. Thus, I won't be seeing any new colleagues in the near future. I am responsible for absolutely everything that has do to with IT…
sbrattla
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58
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14 answers

Keep a programming language backwards compatible vs. fixing its flaws

First, some context (stuff that most of you know anyway): Every popular programming language has a clear evolution, most of the time marked by its version: you have Java 5, 6, 7 etc., PHP 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 etc. Releasing a new version makes new APIs…
Radu Murzea
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