Playradar

Introduction

This framework uses Thoughtworks' Build your own Radar to snapshot a list of tools, techniques, platforms, languages and frameworks that you may want to explore on your projects.

• Track a blip using two categorizing elements: quadrants and rings.
• Quadrants are split into type of blips: tools, techniques, platforms, languages and frameworks.
• Rings indicate your recommendation for using that blip.
• A blip is a technology or technique that plays a role in software development.
• Blips are in motion, as their position in the Radar changes, indicating your increasing confidence in recommending them as they move through the rings.

Quadrants

1. Techniques: These are processes or non-coding techniques, including designs and request for discussions.
2. Platforms: These are what we build our software on top of such as Windows, or virtual platforms like JVM, or SaaS and cloud providers.
3. Tools: These are standalone components, such as databases, CLIs, usually packaged to run as-is.
4. Languages and Frameworks: These include programming languages such as Java or Python, SDKs, libraries and scaffolding languages.

• While quadrants are not as important as rings, however a quadrant can be used as a filter, e.g. you may favor a type over another.

Rings

1. Hold: Things that may be accepted in the industry, but you haven't had any or good experience with. Sometimes, things in the Hold ring are whay you wish the industry wouldn't use, or you may no longer need.
2. Assess: Things to look at closely, which you think are interesting and worth keeping an eye on.
3. Trial: Things that are ready for use, but not be completely proven yet. You should put blips in the Trial ring when you have experience of using that blip for development.
4. Adopt: Things that you should seriously consider using. You may not use these for every project, however it may be for any blip that should be used in an appropriate context. A blip in the Adopt ring is proven and mature for use, that you would recommend to a client.

Why are some blips not on the Radar?

• Blips may no longer be used.
• Blips may be less important than others.
• Blips may not have moved, so it fades from the Radar.
• Blips may be generic.