Tamir Khason – Just code

70-552 should be removed (or, at least changed)

About two weeks ago, I’m failed on 70-552 (UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework). I’m FAILED. Just flaked it off, stumble on it, loooooose! I even was unable to imagine, that I can fail any MCP exam? So, I investigate why it happened (shit does not happen, we make it happens)

• I found, that I ever, never used (aint even think of using) build it unit test framework from VS, ‘cos it’s really SUX!
• I do not think, that I ever though to "Test the identified component based on the requirements", ‘cos first of all I should understand what client need and what other systems he has. Only then I can begin of thinking about "components"
• I do not want to "Design a new exception handling technique", ‘cos we either can use error handling design patters or incorporate existing exception handling best-practices, used by clients.
• I do not want to "Decide which configuration attributes to store", ‘cos we need them all and if you found, that you should not store some attributes, you can just void them
• I do not think, that I should "Evaluate the test environment specification" or "Evaluate the performance testing strategy" or, even "Evaluate the stress testing strategy", ‘cos we have really good external companies, that does it professionally. I have to write good code, while keeping performance in my mind. I definitely should not test the application performance with Windows Task Manager – this is very bad behavior. So, "Identify performance spikes" and "Track logon times" is not my job!
• I’m unable to "Evaluate the impact of the bug and the associated cost and timeline for fixing the bug", ‘cos if you are only developer in the company, you’ll fix it. If not, you should know all developers involved.
• If you are going to "Track bugs that result from customer activity", you should do only this task. I think any of you, who ever did it, know, that we’re, developers, trying to explain the customer, that we never have bugs. All those behaviors are kindly expected.
• If you are not aware about security and want your customer to report "suspicious activity" with your application installer, you, probably, should know how to "Identify scripting requirements for deployment. Considerations include database scripting". As for me, I do not!

So, by summarizing those points, I’ll retake the exam, by writing whatever they want me to write, however, I’m very sure, that this exam should be removed from developers certification, if we do not want our developers to become even worth, than they are.

For conclusion about you, as developers. Try to answer following question (from this examination). Later, I’ll tell you what the right and "right" answer for this one.

You are developing application, which includes several components:

• 3rd party webservice
• External API, developed in other company
• Core component, developed in your company
• MSSQL database in your company
• External component, that using external API

What two components you advice to test in integration tests.

Good luck.

November 17th, 2007 · Comments (10)