# Conversion aid for 1.8.7 to 1.9.x transition? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488 "2009-02-26T21:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/1 "2009-02-26T21:42:31Z")
It seems odd that I’ve not seen this question here before, but maybe I missed it (or just don’t get it on some deeper level!): My current project require some libraries (e.g., CSV) that have been altered in 1.9. It’s be comforting to know that when the time comes there’s some quick way to flag the areas of my code that need attention if they’re to run OK in 1.9. Yeah, it’s be great if I had a test suite. but honestly, it’s all I can do to get the code together in the first place. Tests are high on my todo list, but my need for my current project is higher by far, and I’m close to having a complete function set, so tests aren’t on the menu today. So - is there some 1.8-to-1.9 scanner or whatever? Thanks, t. – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog) ``` ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/2 "2009-02-28T05:18:15Z")
Tom C. wrote: > function set, so tests aren’t on the menu today. > > So - is there some 1.8-to-1.9 scanner or whatever? > > Thanks, > > t. I’m puzzled by the underwhelming response to this question. It is a genuine one, for me, as I’ve not gone through a transition like this before, being new to this programming community. I’m just curious about how others handle, or will handle, this problem. Surely one doesn’t just launch the boat and hope there are no leaks, yes? There has to be a better way. But…for me, it’s far from obvious. Still hoping for some response… Tom – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog) ``` ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 5:36am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/3 "2009-02-28T05:36:57Z")
Tom C. wrote: > Tom C. wrote: > > It’s be comforting to know that when the time comes > > there’s some quick way to flag the areas of my code that need > > attention if they’re to run OK in 1.9. Yeah, it’s be great if I had a > > test suite. but honestly, it’s all I can do to get the code together > > in the first place. > > So - is there some 1.8-to-1.9 scanner or whatever? > I’m puzzled by the underwhelming response to this question. > > I’m just curious about how others handle, or will handle, this problem. You appear to have answered your own question before even asking it. I’m not a Ruby whiz, but AIUI, the only way to build robust systems with dynamic languages is to test thoroughly. > Surely one doesn’t just launch the boat and hope there are no leaks, > yes? +1 Ironic ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 7:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/4 "2009-02-28T07:29:08Z")
Bill K. wrote: > […] > is a way to go faster over time, not slower. > Regards, > > Bill Bill, Jeff - thanks. Your responses are genuinely helpful to me. I’m highly educated in some fields, but not in this one, so I’m often in need of guidance. I’ve wondered if I might have made a strategic error by deciding to defer testing, especially when I implement a new feature and then have to throw a bunch of ad-hoc tests at the code to make sure I’m still advancing on all fronts. OK, I get the message. Changing strategies, tonight. Sigh. I hope test writing goes faster than generating the core code (which, being Ruby, really has gone rather smoothly). Thanks again (he says with some chagrin). t. – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog) ``` ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/5 "2009-02-28T06:27:48Z")
From: “Tom C.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) > > […] It’s be comforting to know that when the time comes > > there’s some quick way to flag the areas of my code that need > > attention if they’re to run OK in 1.9. Yeah, it’s be great if I had a > > test suite. but honestly, it’s all I can do to get the code together > > in the first place. Tests are high on my todo list, but my need for my > > current project is higher by far, and I’m close to having a complete > > function set, so tests aren’t on the menu today. > > […] > > Surely one doesn’t just launch the boat and hope there are no leaks, > > yes? There has to be a better way. I doubt this is the answer you were hoping for. But deferring writing tests is not generally a strategy for completing a working project sooner. If your need for your current project is high, having a supporting network of unit tests continually verifying that your features are still working _as you develop_ new features, is a way to go faster over time, not slower. One effective strategy for not falling behind in writing tests, is to write a small test first (!) to verify a bit of functionality you are about to implement in code. For more info, see “Test-Driven Development Cycle”, at: > **[Test-driven development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test-driven_development)** > > Test-driven development (TDD) is a software development process relying on software requirements being converted to test cases before software is fully developed, and tracking all software development by repeatedly testing the software against all test cases. This is as opposed to software being developed first and test cases created later. > Software engineer Kent Beck, who is credited with having developed or "rediscovered" the technique, stated in 2003 that TDD encourages simple designs and in... Regards, Bill ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/6 "2009-02-28T08:48:01Z")
Tom, From: “Tom C.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) > […] I hope test writing goes faster than > generating the core code (which, being Ruby, really has gone > rather smoothly). 🙂 Myself, I’d been programming for about 17 years before I first read about TDD a decade ago. To this day, I often have to cajole myself a little bit to proceed with writing tests first, because it’s not something i find ‘easy’, but ‘worth it’. In the past decade I’ve never yet regretted writing tests first. A number of times, however, I have come to regret taking shortcuts with something that was supposed to be a knock-off short-term project, where contrary to my predictions it had morphed into a longer-term ongoing project where I began to sorely regret having omitted writing unit tests from the very beginning. . . . So again, I don’t find TDD easy; but worth-it. Regards, Bill ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/7 "2009-02-28T20:18:07Z")
Bill K. wrote: > Myself, I’d been programming for about 17 years before I first > the very beginning. Thanks Bill. I appreciate reading about your experience. Perhaps I can shortcut my own development a bit, with help from more experienced folks such as you. t. – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog) ``` ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 9:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/conversion-aid-for-1-8-7-to-1-9-x-transition/161488/8 "2009-02-28T09:16:40Z")
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