Compiled Learning Objectives

What is Legacy Code? (Prep)

• Define legacy code

Understanding Legacy Code (Prep)

• Define legacy code and its characteristics
• List common challenges when working with legacy code

Fear and logic (Prep)

• Define and explain Chesterton’s Fence

Finding things (Prep)

• Use IDE features to navigate an unfamiliar codebase
• Trace a request flow through an application
• Sketch system architecture

Debugging: Proposing and Discarding Hypotheses (Prep)

• Apply scientific debugging methodology to legacy code
• Formulate and test hypotheses systematically
• Use browser debugging tools effectively with legacy applications

Capturing behaviour in tests (Prep)

• Describe a feature in terms of its behaviour
• Write a test that captures the behaviour of a feature

Fixing: Targeted Changes with Test Support (Prep)

• Make a small, targeted fix to legacy code
• Use tests to verify fixes don’t break existing functionality
• Document fixes and their rationale

Extending: Adding Features the Right Way (Prep)

• Add new features that respect existing patterns
• Extend legacy code without breaking existing functionality
• Follow the design principles of the original codebase
• Use test-driven development for new features

Refining Purple Forest Bugs (Day Plan)

• Identify useful elements in a bug report.
• Explain what extra information would help make bug reports more clear.

Discussion: Behavioural Interviews (Day Plan)

• Identify preparation and techniques for succeeding at behavioural interviews.