Code Sprinters

Code SprintersHow to build a company you would like to work in

Adam Byrtekadam@codesprinters.com

Code Sprinters

9 October 2007

Code Sprinters

Introduction

Motto

Software Web based enterprise applications

Quality Built with the best software engineering practices

Fast Providing results fast thanks to an agile approach

Code Sprinters

History

How it started

History

Building billing system for a large ISP

Growing team to handle increasing complexity

Introducing individual agile practices

Implementing complete Scrum process

Code Sprinters

History

Founding a company

Founding a company

Two founders, two complementary perspectives

Idea to split and build our own company

Meeting with the team, red and blue pill

Negotiations with the mother company

Smooth transition

Code Sprinters

History

Current state

Current state

Cosy office in a great location

Interdisciplinary team of eight, growing

First new project, reservation system for a travel agency

Code Sprinters

Values

Technical vision

Technical vision

Power of the Web

Dynamic languages

Leading tools and frameworks

Open Source values

Quality matters

Code Sprinters

Values

Scrum spirit

Scrum spirit

Scrum process even for the smallest projects

Initial backlog for every prospect

Flexible contracts, no hostages taken

Direct customer interaction and feedback

Taking part in the local community

Code Sprinters

Values

Office

Office

Have an open space

Put a big whiteboard on a wall

Make it a place people feel comfortable in

Flexible work hours

Code Sprinters

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

You can have everything for free

Keep it simple and don’t reinvent the wheel

Flexible, lightweight and platform independent tools

Stick to Open Source if possible

Prefer web based solutions

Code Sprinters

Infrastructure

Communication

Communication

Encourage communication and allow everybody toparticipate

Google Apps for your domain is the way to go

Collaborate on documents, include customers

Version control for more complex documents

Code Sprinters

Infrastructure

Communication

Communication, cont.

Permanent team chat with everybody (Skype, Campfire)

Make votes when it makes sense

Planning Poker for estimating

Code Sprinters

Infrastructure

Server

Server

Get a dedicated server

Don’t hire an administrator, you won’t need him

Give shell accounts to every developer

Code Sprinters

Infrastructure

Server

Project infrastructure

Client gets access to everything!

Test installation of every project

Subversion repository with code and reference documents

Trac for integrated Wiki, bug tracking and timeline

Code Sprinters

Infrastructure

Server

Project infrastructure, cont.

Shared calendar with sprints and important dates

Email alias for communication on project

Scrum tool to track progress (we intend to build our own)

Mail notifications from Trac and Subversion

Code Sprinters

Recruitment

Recruitment

Hire people you can trust

Look for mindset, not only experience

Build interdisciplinary teams

Value Open Source contributions

Communication skills are crucial

Code Sprinters

Summary

Problems

Recruitment is getting harder in Krakow

We need more reliable testing

Code Sprinters

Summary

Thank You

It’s not hard, you could make it yourself

Maybe you would like to join us?

http://www.codesprinters.com