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AbbyFichtner

There once was a cool hacker chick
Whose code was elegant and slick

She also loved to write
But her poetry was a fright!

So to her day job she did stick

(Although, I must admit, I am torn between that final line and: So she decided to keep her day job
so, you'll have to let me know which is more clever.)

Either way, I'm sure my Requirements Professor would have been so proud to know I was exchanging limericks with Jerry Weinberg. :-)

Anyway.... I am here because of the lovely Lady J (aka MarjieCarmen). Johanna also claims that AYE can be useful even to a hermit of a developer like myself (especially for developers, I believe she said :-) ). And, besides, it looks like a grand way to spend the week before my birthday.

I have been developing software wearing every hat imaginable for 15 years now. Programming is my particular love and passion, but - having gotten my start in start-ups, I didn't actually realize you weren't supposed to just pick up whatever role was required to get the job done. So, that's always been my modus operandi. And, now that agile is in vogue, it fits quite well.

I am maybe weird for a developer because I am often more fascinated by the process then the technology. I love looking at the overall process and figuring out ways the team can work better to produce better software. I even spent a few years as a process wonk (I understand that is the appropriate term these days) before I realized how much I missed the hands-on work. But my absolute favorite thing these days is Lean because I think it gives us so many great ideas for doing that. So, I spend my time more as a player/coach these days, helping teams learn how to better develop software while sitting down and coding along side them.

And, I love to write. I've got my own blog on producing better software
The Hacker Chick Blog: http://www.TheHackerChickBlog.com

And am WAY excited to have recently become editor for the Boston SPIN - you can see my first (and in a couple days my second) newsletter here: http://www.boston-spin.org/newsletter.html

I also love running, skiing and kickboxing/mixed martial arts. Or, just walking or hiking around the outdoors. A couple of years ago my husband and I fulfilled a life long dream and moved out of the crazy city (I'd spent my whole life in Washington DC suburbs) up into a great big, beautiful custom built house in the middle of nowhere north country, New Hampshire. So, get lots of time to spend outside around nature now. It’s a dream and a nice break from the coding. :-)

AbbyFichtner 04.06.2009

Hey cool hacker chick! I love my new nickname, thank you! Jerry - don't believe a word she said, I would "never" talk anyone into anything right??!!! ;-) Abby I am way happy you will be there, you're going to bring so much energy and laughter I simply can not imagine the intensity of the hurricane of fun we'll be stirring up!

MarjieCarmen 04.06.2009

SteveSmith 2009.04.07

@Steve - would that be... just a little crazy? :-) I am definitely looking forward to meeting everyone!

@Jerry - okay. Hats: yes. Kicks: no. Got it!

AbbyFichtner 2009.04.30

A cool hacker chick from Elkhart,
Whose code was so elegant and smart,

Loved intensely to write
But her poems were a fright!

So her day job kept breaking her heart.

*** I like the idea of self-introductory limericks, which I started a few years back on JerryWeinberg.

Here's a challenge for others. What's your limerick(s)? How 'bout puttin' them on your personal page? -JW

- JerryWeinberg 2009.04.30

AbbyFichtner 2009.05.01

I will get everyone the actions that teams can do from Esther's session "More than the Sum of the Parts: Creating the Conditions for Teams to Excel" as soon as the airline gets my bag to me (check back early next week).

AbbyFichtner 2009.11.13