This version of the talk was presented at Distill 2014 and GoGaRuCo 2014.
TheScientific Methodof Troubleshooting
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@blithe
Big Nerd RanchAtlanta, Georgia
Scientist
PhD inPhysicalChemistry
Physics
Chemistry
6 Years!
Experiments
ScientificMethod
Developer< >
StackOverflow
Problem solved?
Learn anything?
Most Important Part
ScientificMethod
Set of TechniquesFor AcquiringKnowledge
Methodical
Systematic
“Has anyone seenstring interpolationfail?”
Definethe Problem2 3 4 5 6 71
Expected behavior?!!!
Expected behavior?!Actual behavior?!
Expected behavior?!Actual behavior?!Criteria for success?
Do YourResearch3 4 5 6 7Define 2
Know yourenvironment
Read the literature
Discussions
Make it fail!
Establish aHypothesis5 6 7Define Research 43
Designthe Experiment6 7Define Research Hypothesis 54
Divide and conquer!
Limit the variables
Try something weird
Hierarchy of Blame
GatherData6 7Define Research Hypothesis Experiment 5
Current status?
Read the errormessage!
AnalyzeYour Results7Define Research DataHypothesis Experiment 6
Problem solved?!Learn anything?
Understand the Why
Future Experiments
Embrace the Success
Keep a GoodLab NotebookDefine Research DataHypothesis Experiment Analyze 7
You won’tremember
Logs aren’t enough
Commit Messages
Update the Docs
Contribute
SharetheKnowledge
!Questions?Thanks!@blithe