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Unit testing

Okay, I have something to confess: my record on using testing frameworks to debug software is not good. In fact, my record might show that pretty much all the testing I’ve done in the past has been conducted on an ad hoc basis, using a combination of debugger and strategically placed “print” statements. The only time I can remember having used a proper testing framework with repeatable tests was at Sun Labs as an intern, and that was because it was already set up for me. Perhaps it is common for a researcher to have shoddy testing procedures in place – I don’t know. All I know is that mine have been bad.

JUnit in EclipseFor the first time, I’m using the JUnit framework to conduct repeatable tests, and I’m doing this from within the Eclipse IDE. On the first day of use, it’s already paid dividends, quickly honing in on problems in my code. Running JUnit in combo with the debugger has proved especially useful. The only reason I decided to look into testing frameworks was because I’ll probably be handing this code over to someone else to work on soon, and that provided an incentive to be a bit professional about the way I’m doing my coding work. I should mention that it took absolutely no time at all to set up my environment, though it can take a little bit of time to get each unit test just right.

Of course, none of this will come as any surprise to many of the readers of this weblog (i.e., that researchers might have questionable software engineering practices and that repeatable tests are good).

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Random observations

Ricky 1, go card 0

go card
So I bought a Translink go card yesterday. Up to now I’d been using paper weekly tickets, but because I work at home on Wednesdays, this wasn’t the most cost-effective solution. 10-trip savers would have been the best option, except that I sometimes catch the train. So go card it is. My first experience with the go card was good for me, but not so good for Translink: the card readers on the bus were not operational. Free ride. I love the go card.

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Random observations

Apple crack

If Apple went bust, people would have withdrawal symptoms. If a rival company went, people would buy another computer.

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Past affiliations

I’ve included details from my distant past here, just in case anyone out there shares this past and wants to get in touch.

Glen Innes Public School (1984-1985)

Cleveland State School (1986-1987)

Victoria Point State School (1988-1991)

St Joseph’s College, Nudgee (1992-1996)

The University of Queensland (1997-2005)

The Distributed Systems Technology Centre (2000-2005)

Sun Microsystems Research Labs (2001)

global-roam Pty Ltd (2005)

NICTA (2006-present)

I’ve also played in various football clubs over the years: Glen Innes, Redlands United, Northstar and Olympic.

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Random observations

Website rationalised

Welcome to my new look weblog. Observant readers might notice that the URL for The Thin Line has changed. To accommodate this change, the content that was at rickyrobinson.id.au has been consigned to the dustbin of history. It was simply too difficult to keep two websites updated with fresh content. Now you’ll find everything at this one website, including my publications and media gallery… okay, photo gallery. Hopefully all the redirecting should be transparent, but if you find anything broken, please let me know.

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Publications

This is a list of my publications, from most recent to least recent.

rickyrobinson.cached.bib bibtex file empty

This publications list is generated by bib2html for WordPress.

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Random observations

Pim Verbeek to coach the Socceroos

Later today, Pim Verbeek will be announced as the coach of the Australian national football team. This comes after he was recommended to the FFA by former manager Guus Hiddink, and another Dutchman, Dick Advocaat reneged on his contract. So Australia is staying Dutch, so to speak. Verbeek has extensive experience in Asia, which was certainly a major factor in his selection. The other main contender was Phillippe Troussier, a Frenchman who also has experience in Asia, leading Japan to an Asian Cup win. Although Troussier is pretty highly regarded (he is more experienced than Verbeek at international level), I think the FFA’s decision to stay Dutch is a good one. We haven’t yet firmly established a particular style of play. But having come so far down the Dutch path, it might be counter-productive to try playing a different way. Keep in mind that the FFA’s technical director, Rob Baan, is also Dutch. With a Dutch national coach and technical director, at least we should be assured of continuity in the style and method adopted by our national teams, and hopefully the technical director has some success in embedding this style and method at the grass roots level of the game in this country.

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Random observations

The end of Movember

So, the last day of Movember has arrived, which means, tomorrow, my mo disappears. I’m in the awareness raising game rather than the money raising game this year, because I couldn’t get my act together. Maybe next year. Anyway, if you feel like donating some money to the Movember cause, I’m sure Michael and/or Jim would love a last-minute sponsorship.

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Random observations

Singapore’s MDA rocks on

In the wake of international criticism following its banning of the computer game Mass Effect and the subsequent lifting of the ban, Singapore’s Media Development Authority have released a hip hop video in which its executives rap about the role of the Authority. Ever wondered how to fit “service oriented architecture” into the lyrics of a hip hop song? No problem for the MDA.

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Random observations

Happy birthday Mum!

Mum’s “official” birthday follows Karen’s by exactly a week each year. Here’s a photo of her and Xander at Victoria Point today, where we celebrated her birthday.

Mum and Xander