I now have a version of Fitnium working with SLiM, version 2.0 to be release shortly will include support for the existing Fitnesse DoFixture plus support for the SLiM Script Table
You will be able to continue using your existing scripts with no change, but also start developing in SLiM
I've recently started a new Agile coaching gig in the Telco space. The team are already into the development cycle but had been struggling with scope, quality and communication, hence the call from the programme manager one day
They already have a system in production and have ongoing support requests, plus a decent sized team 16+ people actively seeking work each day, there is not the option do a drains up coaching exercise and get everyone trained in the basics before we start cutting code, testing and delivering, there is a business to run.
The approach I've taken reminds me of how you learn to dive. Start simple, head under the water and breath, then introduce the concepts one by one, mask clearing, BCD ( buoyancy control ), proper finning etc piece by piece, but only after the team demonstrate that they have mastered the current activity. Basically I am brain training them, getting them to accept and adopt a specific practice to the point where it becomes second nature. Just like with diving you don't progress to open water until all the safety procedures are pretty much second nature. When it goes wrong you don't think, you just act and therefore you don't drown.
We started with planning, poker and standups and did not change anything else about their current process. Just these 3 aspects got the teams talking more, got developers and testers talking to analysts and demonstrating finished functionality in small easily understandable and therefore testable chunks.
People saw the changes added value and actively started seeking more advanced Agile concepts, automated build and testing, mock objects etc, but always under the control of the coach at first to make sure they were doing it right. This reminded me of when I did my first pool session, I was taught the basics, the instructor making sure I did them all correct and then let me play in the pool, but never so far away as he couldn't keep an eye on me and correct anything that he saw was wrong. I practiced full mask clearing ( only been taught partial mask clearance ) and I practiced buoyancy control through breathing in and out ( we'd only be shown how to use the BCD ).
This analogy reminds me that the concepts of agile are not new, just best practice and easily learnt and if taught in small easily digestible parts allows the student to progress to new areas at their own speed.
