in reply to Universal laws of bugs?
- Bugs travel in groups. If you see one, look for a second. If you see two close together, look for eight more.
- It's never the case that "nothing changed, really!" If you're sure that nothing changed, look again.
- The solution will pop out the moment somebody looks over your shoulder. Therefore, arrange for people to look over your shoulder a lot. Better yet, pair program.
- The best insurance against bugs sneaking in is a good set of unit tests, run frequently. When you fix a bug, write a new unit test that demonstrates the bug first, then fix it. That way, the bug will stay fixed.
- Demos to customers attract bugs. Demo to a friendly audience first.
- Remember Rudy's Rutagaba Rule (Weinberg): "Once you eliminate your number one problem, number two gets a promotion." Having another problem is a good thing. It means you still have customers.
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