Juddmansee.com

I kinda like this system debugging stuff. Using assumptions like “Greg is almost always right” and approaches like “check the simplest explanation first” I found the root cause and solution to three bugs this afternoon. Ok, this afternoon was about 12 hours, but still, it’s about a week’s worth of normal progress in 12 hours. It also helps that there are no cell phones, no blackberries, no laptops.  In this classified facility, there are no distractions.

I like doing this work. It’s fun problem solving, tracking the logic to figure out what’s going on.  I’m really pleased that I remember how the fuser works and how to read a tagtracksfile.  I even faked my way through a parameter config file.  People haven’t started to cringe when I stop by because I don’t blame them or leave them with a mess, I keep tracking it until it’s dead. (first DTT reference) I’m pretty good at it. It feels good. I reminds me of those heralded golden weeks when Dan, Evan, Phil and I alternated time at Dayton and got DTT running. (second DTT reference) I wish others would step up to this role, and would have done it earlier. I wish I didn’t have to work on it until late into the night at the very last possible moment, despite my experience that this is often the situation that requires/allows me to be in this position.  I suggested maybe we do one of these early in 08, well before the demo, when we don’t have to work 16 hour days and can actually enjoy the camaraderie.  We’ll see if it happens.

Most people who saw me Monday knew it was going to be a painful week.  Who knew it would also be at least a little bit satisfying?