Inspired by application certification programs such as Microsoft's new “Works with Windows Vista” logo program I'd like to introduce a new, developer focused “Works on My Machine” application certification program. This new certification communicates to team members, testers, BA's and project sponsors that not only did you compile the code before checking it in, but that you actually ran the application and exercised in some small way the feature(s) in question.
By following the technical certification requirements below you earn the right to brand your app with the “Works on My Machine” logo.
higher-res version
Technical Certification Requirements
- Compile your application code with the relevant compiler. Note: Getting the latest version of any recent code changes from other developers is purely optional and not a requirement for certification.
- Launch the application/site that has just been compiled.
- Cause one code-path in the code you're checking in to be executed. Note: the preferable way to do this is with very ad-hoc manual testing of the simplest case for the feature in question. The Stovell Institute for Application Assurance suggests that it is possible to omit this step if the code change was less than five lines, or if (in the developer's professional opinion) the code change could not possibly result in an error.
- Check the code changes into your version control system.
Notification Requirements
While you are not required to disclose to testers, customers etc. that your product has attained this bench-mark in application certification it is highly probable that you will wish to do so. Although you will be justifiably proud of this accomplishment it is advisable to cultivate an air of casual smug-ness when mentioning that it “works on my machine”, rather than outright gleeful gloating.