DotCover TFS Extension

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This article is about using the TFS Extension for DotCover which can be used in your build definition to run your tests.

DotCover Code Coverage Extension is an alternative to the power-shell script which is stored in the code repository, which is later used during the CI build to verify the unit/integration tests coverage in the project.

Build Agents - Prerequisites

minimum Build Agent Version 1.95
Visual Studio 2017
Jet brains Dot Cover Console runner 2018

Build Task Configuration

1. Add the task from the available list

2. Build Step

Place the task right next to your present dot cover PowerShell script.

3. Build Step configuration

Fill the following mandatory fields with the necessary information to get the tests running

4. Advanced configuration

This section specifically created for an advanced configuration where you like to different settings than the default ones.

I have mentioned the default values which are inside the task, if you like to change any of the default paths please remove the "Default Value =" and fill in the desired configuration.

Excluded Assemblies - This is the assemblies which you don't like to cover as part of the analysis, you can always specify all the assemblies that you like to test in the Test Assemblies in the above mandatory section.
Report Type - Report type by default is HTML, another option here is XML which produces DetailedXML which can be used in conjunction with ReportGenerator.
VSTest Path - This is the path where the vstest.console.exe is placed in the system, default value here is as per the VS2017 installation path in most of the build agents, if any custom needs to mentioned please use this space.
DotCover.exe Path - This represents the directory where the dotcover.exe is present, the default value, for now, is "C:\BuildTools\dotcover.2018.1"

This extension doesn't have all the features of dot cover command line, it will be added based on the request.

Next version will add the functionality to auto download the dot cover from jetbrains.
At present this extension is in privately available in TFS marketplace if anybody likes to try it out I can share the marketplace link after standardizing the extension for general use I can make it public.
DotCover Commands

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DIY: Self-Organizing Teams - 3

By Sam Dinesh

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I have shared some of the down falls in the previous parts of the same topic and ways to get back from them through the modes: Survival and Learning Mode. This part is more focused on the Self Organizing Mode.

The transition from the Learning Mode requires a mutual respect among the team members. This phase of the Self Organizing mode is in the commitment which helps in setting the expectation clear and not over committing and falling back to the Survival Mode.

Commitment Language: You commit of what you can deliver also which is under your control too. You cannot commit to some body else in the team. Probably you work as a team to achieve it but cannot do the work as it is not in your control.

ex: In an F1Pitstop the Lollipop man can guide you in the pit stop but he cannot apply the brakes or gears when required as it is not in his control. So he cannot commit that he will stop the racing vehicle whatsoever !!

The commitment language also should be more specific about the deadline and delivery also which sets the expectations clear and does end up in any survival mode situation.

Also, the commitment should be in a manner to change an impossible one to possible with adhering to the above rules.

With the above said there are no assumptions in the team now. so, let's get ready to organize on our own as a team.

Self Organizing Mode

Clear meetings to advance on organizing, how the meeting should be organized?

What are you doing on the particular problem or work?

Discuss more on that.

now ask what are you planning to do about it?

Discuss more on the answer.

Close the conversation with the clear picture on the next steps.

This conversation gives more solutions or opens up the all the issues hidden. This has to be treated as a team help rather than a discrimination. If you have done the previous modes perfectly, by this time team is mature enough to understand the conversation.

Influence Patterns

What are the influencing factors for the team member to cope with the team or rebel?

Personal Ability: Do he/she has enough skills to perform?
Personal Motivation: Are his thoughts about the job right / wrong?
Social Ability: Does he/she is supported by the peer?
Social Motivation: Does the organization motivates the behavior, good/ bad?
Environmental Ability: Is the work environment good for him/her?
Environment Motivation: Does the organization offers bonus or perks to the employee to keep them motivated?

Few other points are to be added in the following article which can help you build a self-organizing team.

You can look back on the previous articles Part-1 Part-2

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DIY: Self-Organizing Teams - 2

By Sam Dinesh

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This first article is just the prep for the actual work. This article is focused on the modes/models and the style of leadership.

Survival Mode

This mode is likely you are mostly having issues daily on the team or on the work. This has become a habit and the team is not bothered because of this. They survive by fixing the issues by alternate solutions rather than a permanent fix.

This has become an addiction to the team which they are not ready to come out.

To make the team come out of this addiction as a leader you need to find slack time to contribute on the permanent fixes.

Slack Time – Identify the commitments, draw a red line on the commitment delivery. So there is a fair chance to the team members to keep things moving and find time to analyze the issues.

When you try to make slack time and stick to red line there is a lot of confronts.

How do Command and Control can help in this mode?

Correct the bad decisions by any member of the team.

Identify the Team strengths and analyze the issues on that front, rather than making the team go through the uncomfortable tasks / People/ Environment..etc.

Disturbances – Avoid any disturbances to the team on the focus on slack time.

This mode is where most of the leaders might start with or this a good phase to go through to understand the strengths of the team.

This mode cannot be continued as the fixes are done by the slack time identification slowly the team has to move on to the next mode. - Learning Mode

Learning Mode

This mode is the one which is very important for the team to be self-equipped.

This mode is more of learning, training, and experimenting which can help the team grow in their knowledge, also to manage the challenges with perfect strategy.

The biggest problem in this mode is the checking on the learning or growth of the team members, motivating them to do the first part efficiently.

Ravine - The downfall in the performance but not in a significant manner or the performance improves after a downfall and again drops after a certain time.

This situation has to be embraced, but cannot be continued.

The team has to challenge to go through this phase as the downfall and growth are the initial steps of the learning process with the next strategy we can get the team performing consistently.

Growing People - how to enable people from Ravine to consistent performers

Compliment the team with opportunities to learn and perform every day.

Organize One-to-One meetings to understand the learning and guide the team members on the right steps to take next.

Make the team members do some homework on the issues they have faced daily and how they have overcome this.

Don't try to punish the team member for the lack of trying or lack of success.

Once the team going through the Learning Mode they are getting ready to self-organized more rules and solutions to issues that happen on the next mode is continued in the next article

SAM DINESH

Latest Posts

DotCover TFS Extension

Build Task Configuration

1. Add the task from the available list

2. Build Step

3. Build Step configuration

4. Advanced configuration

DIY: Self-Organizing Teams - 3

DIY: Self-Organizing Teams - 2

DIY: Self-Organizing Teams

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