Development infrastructure

There are a number of things you need to make software in addition to a good idea and skilled programmers. And I am not only thinking about money and patience.

The following is of essence:

• Version Control System
• Build Machine
• Bug Tracking System
• Install Builder
• Test Harness
• Project Planning Application
• Project Portal/meeting space
• Documentation Platform

In addition to the above, you may want to investigate stuff like

• Code coverage analyzer
• Change/churn analyzer
• Data repository for all the data points

It is worth noting that you still need to have an administrative infrastructure that suits your and your customers’ needs, like

• Time reporting
• Project plans
• Test plans
• Staged testing environments (quote a technical need)
• Budget and follow up
• Reporting structure to customer

I’m off to watch TV with my son (it is Friday evening after all ), but next time around I’ll start a walk-through of the tools I have found and used for the various pieces you really do not want to live without when developing software.

–Jesper Högström