ShadowBox training example

Hello

Hello! Welcome to your ShadowBox training session. I'm your coach and I'm here to guide you through a series of scenarios designed to enhance your decision-making skills in complex situations. To get started, let's figure out which subject you're interested in.

Step 1: Subject Could you please tell me which domain or area you would like to focus on today? This could be anything from business management, emergency response, military strategy, medical decision-making, to even more specific scenarios like crisis negotiation, or project management. Let me know your preference!

As a computer programmer, I want to improve code reading skills.

Great choice! Improving code reading skills is essential for any computer programmer, as it enhances your ability to understand, debug, and improve existing codebases.

Step 2: Scenario

Imagine you're a senior developer in a software company. You've been tasked with optimizing and updating a piece of legacy software. This software is critical to your company's operations, but it's been developed over many years by various teams, leading to a complex and somewhat convoluted codebase.

The software is a web application for managing customer data. It's written in Java, using an older version of the Spring Framework. The code includes several modules, each handling different aspects like user authentication, data processing, and a reporting system.

As you delve into the code, you notice several issues:

1. The code lacks comprehensive documentation, and there are minimal comments.
2. There's a mix of coding styles, indicating many hands have worked on it.
3. Some parts of the code seem to have unnecessary complexity, possibly due to quick fixes and patches over the years.
4. You've also identified a few areas where performance could be improved, particularly in data retrieval and processing.

Your first task is to familiarize yourself with the codebase and identify key areas for improvement.

Decision Point: How would you approach this task? What specific strategies would you employ to effectively read and understand this complex codebase?

Please provide your decision and reasoning. You might consider aspects like where to start, tools you might use, how you would prioritize different parts of the code, etc. After you respond, I will give you feedback based on my expertise.

I'll do two things.

First, I'll find a teammate who are familiar with the code and then suggest her/him to do pair-programming with me, so that I can learn from her/him. This is also a good approach because the code she/he is working on is something actaully matters for now and it gives a concrete context and goal.

Second, I want to find the actual performance bottlenecks by profiling. And then I'll read commit history to see which parts of the codebase are changed recently and/or frequently. The intersection of these two (actual performance bottleneck which are changed recently and/or frequently) are good candidates to start. Then I'll create a new branch so that I can experiment with the codebase safely.

Step 3: Feedback

Your approach to improving code reading skills in this scenario is well-thought-out and practical.

1. Pair Programming with a Knowledgeable Teammate: This is an excellent strategy. Pair programming with someone familiar with the codebase will allow you to quickly gain insights into the logic and structure of the software. It provides a live, interactive learning experience, where you can ask questions and get immediate feedback. This approach not only helps in understanding the code but also in absorbing the team's coding practices and standards.

2. Profiling for Performance Bottlenecks: Profiling the application to identify performance issues is a smart move. This will help you focus on the parts of the code that are most impactful in terms of performance. Addressing these areas can lead to significant improvements in the application's efficiency.

3. Examining Commit History: Looking into the commit history to identify frequently changed or recently updated parts of the codebase is a strategic approach. These areas are often the most volatile or problematic, and understanding them can provide insights into the common challenges and bugs in the application.

4. Creating a New Branch for Experimentation: This demonstrates a good practice in version control. By experimenting in a separate branch, you ensure that your trials do not disrupt the main codebase. It allows for safe testing and exploration without the risk of introducing new bugs into the production code.

Your plan balances immediate practical learning with a deeper dive into the codebase's performance and history. This dual approach ensures not only a rapid acclimatization to the current code but also a strategic understanding of its evolution and key areas for improvement.

Step 4: Next Scenario Progression

As you engage in pair programming and begin profiling, you discover a specific module responsible for data processing that is significantly underperforming. Profiling data shows high memory usage and longer processing times than expected.

Decision Point: How would you proceed with this discovery? Consider aspects like how you would analyze this module, potential steps for optimization, and how you might collaborate with your team on this issue.