Code Sprinters
Code Sprinters
How to build a company you would like to work in
Adam Byrtek
adam@codesprinters.com
Code Sprinters
9 October 2007

Code Sprinters
Introduction
Motto
Software Web based enterprise applications
Quality Built with the best software engineering practices
Fast Providing results fast thanks to an agile approach

Code Sprinters
History
How it started
History
Building billing system for a large ISP
Growing team to handle increasing complexity
Introducing individual agile practices
Implementing complete Scrum process

Code Sprinters
History
Founding a company
Founding a company
Two founders, two complementary perspectives
Idea to split and build our own company
Meeting with the team, red and blue pill
Negotiations with the mother company
Smooth transition

Code Sprinters
History
Current state
Current state
Cosy office in a great location
Interdisciplinary team of eight, growing
First new project, reservation system for a travel agency

Code Sprinters
Values
Technical vision
Technical vision
Power of the Web
Dynamic languages
Leading tools and frameworks
Open Source values
Quality matters

Code Sprinters
Values
Scrum spirit
Scrum spirit
Scrum process even for the smallest projects
Initial backlog for every prospect
Flexible contracts, no hostages taken
Direct customer interaction and feedback
Taking part in the local community

Code Sprinters
Values
Office
Office
Have an open space
Put a big whiteboard on a wall
Make it a place people feel comfortable in
Flexible work hours

Code Sprinters
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
You can have everything for free
Keep it simple and don’t reinvent the wheel
Flexible, lightweight and platform independent tools
Stick to Open Source if possible
Prefer web based solutions

Code Sprinters
Infrastructure
Communication
Communication
Encourage communication and allow everybody to
participate
Google Apps for your domain is the way to go
Collaborate on documents, include customers
Version control for more complex documents

Code Sprinters
Infrastructure
Communication
Communication, cont.
Permanent team chat with everybody (Skype, Campfire)
Make votes when it makes sense
Planning Poker for estimating

Code Sprinters
Infrastructure
Server
Server
Get a dedicated server
Don’t hire an administrator, you won’t need him
Give shell accounts to every developer

Code Sprinters
Infrastructure
Server
Project infrastructure
Client gets access to everything!
Test installation of every project
Subversion repository with code and reference documents
Trac for integrated Wiki, bug tracking and timeline

Code Sprinters
Infrastructure
Server
Project infrastructure, cont.
Shared calendar with sprints and important dates
Email alias for communication on project
Scrum tool to track progress (we intend to build our own)
Mail notifications from Trac and Subversion

Code Sprinters
Recruitment
Recruitment
Hire people you can trust
Look for mindset, not only experience
Build interdisciplinary teams
Value Open Source contributions
Communication skills are crucial

Code Sprinters
Summary
Problems
Recruitment is getting harder in Krak´w
o
We need more reliable testing

Code Sprinters
Summary
Thank You
It’s not hard, you could make it yourself
Maybe you would like to join us?
http://www.codesprinters.com