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Anna-Jayne Metcalfe - Professional Profile

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I haven't always written software for a living. When I graduated from Surrey University in 1989, it was with an Electronic Engineering degree, but unfortunately that never really gave me the opportunity to do anything particularly interesting (with the possible exception of designing Darth Vader's Codpiece * for the UK Army in 1990 - but that's another story...).
    * Also known as the Standard Army Bootswitch
Since the opportunity arose to lead a software team developing C++ software for Avionic Test Systems in 1996, I've not looked back. More recently I've been involved in the development of subsea acoustic navigation systems (with Sonardyne International Ltd), and I'm now working as a freelance software consultant for Riverblade Limited.
 
One of my personal interests is add-in development. The Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++ was my first attempt at an add-in, and I'm currently working on Visual Lint, an add-in which closely integrates the PC-Lint code analysis tool with Visual Studio .NET. Cool | :cool:
 
I love lots of things, but particularly music, anything historical (especially if it gives me the opportunity to have a bit of sword practice!), reading, chatting and being with friends. I despise ignorant, intolerant and obstructive people - and it shows...I can be a bolshy cow if you wind me up the wrong way...:laugh
 
I'm currently based 15 minutes walk from the beach in Bournemouth on the south coast of England. Since I moved here I've grown to love the place - even if it is full of grockles in Summer!
Member since Wednesday, October 25, 2000 (11 years, 7 months)

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Riverblade Limited



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Riverblade is a UK based Independent Software Vendor (ISV) and Microsoft Partner established in 2004 and specialising in:
<ul>
<li>Development Tools </li>
 
<li>notably integration within Microsoft Visual Studio) </li>
 
<li>Bespoke Software Solutions </li>
 
<li>Code and Process auditing </li>
</ul>
 
<p>Riverblade are also members of the Visual Studio Industry Partner (VSIP) Programme and have significant experience in the integration of customised solutions and third party tools within commercial IDEs including Microsoft Visual Studio.</p>
 
<p>We are based in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England.</p>
 

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GeneralSometimes articles take as long as products to write.... Pin
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:19 PM
The first time we attended the ACCU Conference back in April 2007 I was rather struck by how much I would enjoy writing for that audience. I actually started writing an article (something I've not done in a while due to time pressures) while I was there. If I tell you that I started writing it on a PDA using a stylus, you'll probably have an idea of how enthusiastic I was about it at the time).
 
After the conference ended the draft sat there for months. Every so often when I had a spare few minutes I'd fire up Pocket Word and write a bit more. By this year's ACCU Conference I was feeling guilty about it, and after being rather heavily "leaned on" to present a session at ACCU 2009, I decided to get a bit more serious about it. As ever, work got in the way (specifically, the development of Visual Lint 2.0) so it wasn't until the summer that I had something I was reasonably happy with.
 
In late August Gail Ollis wrote to me to tell me she was guest editing the next edition of the ACCU journals CVu and Overload, and asked if I'd be interested in writing a "Visual Studio 101" type article.
 
That was the kick I needed - and as I had something almost ready, it made sense to submit that rather than write something new. As a result, part 1 of "Taming the Lint Monster" was submitted to the editor for publication this afternoon. Smile | :)
 
I've reproduced the introduction (entitled "An All Too Common Story") below to give you a flavour of the article:
"It's such a common story. Partway through a project, the company starts to become anxious about the number of defects that are being identified in the product, and how long they are taking to fix. Even worse, customers are beginning to notice.
 
Something must be done. Additional resources are thrown at the problem, but somehow it doesn't ever seem to be enough. The codebase is large, complex and hard to understand and maintain. It is - for all intents and purposes - a "Big Ball of Mud" (not that anyone in the company would know such a term; after all - they are far too busy firefighting to read tech blogs and keep up to date with current trends in software development).
 
After several months of throwing additional firefighters at the problem, someone has the bright idea™ to find out just how much hidden nastiness is lurking in the code base waiting for the right moment to let loose it's wrath on the unsuspecting team.
 
An appropriate tool is identified and procured, and then the real fun starts - actually using it.
 
Inevitably, it never quite turns out the way the team (or their managers) expect. Not only does it turn out to be an absolute nightmare to configure and use (after all you never appreciate how much work compiler project files can save you from until you have to maintain something comparable yourself), but when the team do finally get it working to their satisfaction the results it produces are so volumous that nobody quite knows what to do with them. Worse, they contain some really bad news (TM).
 
As all too often happens, dealing with the issues the tool raises is deemed to be a) too expensive, b) too risky and c) not as much fun as writing new copy-paste code (though nobody is ever quite honest enough to admit to the latter).
 
The team conveniently forget about the whole experience and go back to compiling at warning level 3 as they always have done. The installation disk for the offending tool is quietly hidden away in a desk draw and forgotten...and of course, the Big Ball of Mud grows ever bigger until the inevitable "lets just re-write it in language 'X'" event a year or two later. With an eye on what language 'X' would look like on everyone's CV, of course...
 
But it sure did seem like a good idea at the time..." Roll eyes | :rolleyes:
Incidentally, if you are interested in software quality and innovation and haven't joined ACCU, you really should...
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Having a bad bug day?
 
Tech Blog | Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
 
"If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"

 
GeneralWe've been "Podcasted" Pin
Saturday, September 1, 2007 12:47 AM
Last November we attended the European Shareware Conference (ESWC 2006)[^] in Cambridge.
 
This was the first conference we had attended as a company, and the first I've encountered which was specifically targetted at Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). As a result, we didn't have any real preconceptions of what to expect (the programme certainly sounded interesting), and the fact that the first item on the agenda was effectively "meet in the pub get to know everybody" the night before indicated that this conference was a highly social event.
 
Aside from being plyed with drinks by Microsoft and Digital River, this was also an opportunity to meet some of the "characters" in this part of the industry. One of them is Mike Dulin, who runs an internet radio podcast site targetted at ISVs. If you've ever met Mike, you'll know why I refer to him as a "character"...I don't need to say any more. Laugh | :laugh:
 
The upshot was that we were talked into doing an interview the following morning. At 9am (and still slightly hung over from the previous night) we wandered up to Mike's hotel room upstairs, which had been converted into an impromptu recording studio for the duration of the conference. It was a new experience for us, and we've been watching Mike's site (www.sharewareradio.com[^]) every Thursday since then to see when it would appear (Mike records his interviews en-masse at conferences such as ESWC, and podcasts them over the following months).
 
On Wednesday we had an email from Mike to tell us that the podcast was to be broadcast the following day. :->
 
I listened to most of it yesterday, and I have to say that despite being quite nervous at the time it comes over far better than I expected (let's face it - I wouldn't be linking to it if it was that cringeworthy). It is also interesting to compare what we've done over the past few months with what we said we were going to do at the time - suffice it to say that our plans have changed a little, but not drastically.
 
We will of course be at the ESWC 2007[^] (now called the European Software Conference) in Cologne this November, so if Mike is there we will no doubt be in front of the microphone again. Hopefully I won't have a hangover this time, though... Roll eyes | :rolleyes:
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Linting the day away Cool | :cool:
 
Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
 
"If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"

 
GeneralProducts, the Universe and Everything Pin
Thursday, January 6, 2005 6:00 PM
Products, the Universe and Everything[^] is a blog we've just started to discuss Riverblade's products, what features we hope to include and the technical oddities we encounter along the way.
 
There's also an RSS feed for those who're lazy like me. Cool | :cool:
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Riverblade Ltd - Software Consultancy Services
 
Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

 
GeneralWarplucking Pin
Sunday, August 29, 2004 1:31 PM
Wi-fi gets everywhere these days. Even my rather battered Vaio laptop has had it for a little while now, and I have to say it's really convenient not having to run cables everywhere.
 
With that freedom, there is of course a risk - security. If a wi-fi network is unsecured, anyone can wander in and poke around. For example, articles often talk of "warchalking"...an activity which involves driving around with a laptop looking for unsecured wireless networks and using them.
 
There are apparently plenty such networks out there, which shouldn't be surprising given how unaware many people are of the need to secure their desktop machines. Personally, I've not used wi-fi enough to come across security issues, and wouldn't even consider setting up an insecure network. To do so is just madness.
 
Last Wednesday we encountered just that in the last place we expected - during my weekly electrolysis session (I've had 44 hours so far, incidentally). While I lay on the table being "stabbed, shocked and plucked" (it's worth it, honest!) by my electrolgist Vanessa, Beth was writing on her laptop, and noticed that it had picked up an insecure network in the vicinity. Whose it was, we don't know (and didn't look to try to find out), but we know it wasn't in Vanessa's house. Most likely it was one of her neighbours.
 
The lesson is of course that you should never assume only someone in your house can see your network. Secure it!
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

 
GeneralAfter 6 years away, it seems that I still know how to fight Pin
Friday, May 28, 2004 4:55 AM
Last night I finally did what I've been promising to for ages - I picked up one of my swords again and did some training. Big Grin | :-D
 
It all came about because of my friend Mark (who I only got back in touch with last Summer after bumping into a bunch of my old group at Tewkesbury in July). I've been saying I'd give it a go for some time, but wanted to wait until I was a little further on in my recovery before finding out just how out of condition I was!
 
It was pretty strange going back after 6 years away, but fun...as well as quite a few old friends there are a lot of new faces there who don't know who I am or about my past. While I don't particularly mind if the newbies find out about me, it's rather fun to keep them wondering for a while - which I'm sure they will if I start playing with polearms again!
 
Anyway, although I only sparred for a little while with shortsword and buckler it rapidly became obvious that I haven't forgotten how to fight. Despite falling flat on my bum at one point (that'll teach me to wear healed boots I guess...Roll eyes | :rolleyes: ) I got past Mark's guard a few times, and felt like my swordsmanship was far safer than I expected it to be after all this time.
 
That said, I'm still pretty weak at the moment and it's going to take quite some time before I'm ready to don full armour and throw a polearm around - or take part in a "mass bash" (as the "games" the group play at the end of a training session are known).
 
I didn't get back home until 2am, so today I'm both aching and knackered! Laugh | :laugh:
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
P.S. Unfortunately I didn't take any pics this time but sooner or later I'll try to post some...apparently I pull some real odd facial expressions when I'm fighting! Laugh | :laugh:
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

GeneralRe: After 6 years away, it seems that I still know how to fight PinmemberRoger Allen5:20 28 May '04  
GeneralRe: After 6 years away, it seems that I still know how to fight PinmemberAnna-Jayne Metcalfe6:21 28 May '04  
GeneralRe: After 6 years away, it seems that I still know how to fight PinmemberRoger Allen6:45 28 May '04  
GeneralRe: After 6 years away, it seems that I still know how to fight PinmemberAnna-Jayne Metcalfe10:01 28 May '04  
 
GeneralResOrg 1.5.3 Pin
Tuesday, May 11, 2004 12:23 AM
I'm now seriously looking at the next version of ResOrg[^] (1.5.3). Cool | :cool:
 
Please post any comments and feature requests to:
 
http://www.codeproject.com/macro/resorg.asp?msg=817745#xx817745xx[^]
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

 
GeneralOne of those days... Pin
Tuesday, May 4, 2004 6:47 AM
It's been one of those days when I've felt like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall. Sigh | :sigh:
 
It's not any single thing, but more a combination of them...broken builds, frustration at old code, lack of specifications for new products, out of date tools (we're still waiting for Visual Studio.NET at work - I've had a copy for home use since August 2002!) and so on...not to mention the emotional load I'm carrying outside of work.
 
I shed a few tears today, but at least it passed quickly...and as always something happened to make me smile. About an hour before leaving work I wandered into the canteen to refill my mug (I know - I drink way too much coffee at work) and discovered that some considerate soul had left some lemon cake out for anyone that fancied a nibble. Big Grin | :-D
 
It may not be chocolate, but this girl ain't fussy...or at least, not when it comes to free nibbles! Wink | ;)
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

GeneralRe: One of those days... PinstaffMarcie Robillard (Datagrid Girl)7:06 4 May '04  
GeneralRe: One of those days... PinmemberAnna-Jayne Metcalfe13:59 4 May '04  
 
GeneralTechnoclutter Pin
Friday, April 23, 2004 12:04 PM
Ever get the feeling that you're desk is a bit overloaded? On the premise that a picture tells a thousand words, here's a pic I took today of my desk at work:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This is getting silly! The yellow box on the left is a Scout USBL acoustic tracking system I'm working on, the two left hand monitors belong to the black Dell box on the right (a 2GHz Xeon with 512MB memory running XP Pro), the right hand monitor belongs to a Win2k box (a 733MHz PIII) I mostly use for simulating acoustics and my own laptop (a 1GHz Duron running XP Home) is on the right.
 
I remember the days when it was paperwork covering my desk...Roll eyes | :rolleyes:
 
At home things are a bit more sedate...I just have my laptop, enhanced with an external TFT monitor, scanner, printer, webcam...all the usual stuff a girl needs - aside from a large bottle of Baileys and a partner to serve it to me of course! Laugh | :laugh:
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

GeneralRe: Technoclutter PinstaffMarcie Robillard (Datagrid Girl)4:22 29 Apr '04  
GeneralRe: Technoclutter PinmemberAnna-Jayne Metcalfe9:05 29 Apr '04  
GeneralRe: Technoclutter PinstaffMarcie Robillard (Datagrid Girl)9:08 29 Apr '04  
GeneralRe: Technoclutter PinmemberAnna-Jayne Metcalfe10:45 29 Apr '04  
GeneralRe: Technoclutter PinmemberRichardM17:35 25 May '10  
GeneralRe: Technoclutter PinassociateAnna-Jayne Metcalfe8:13 25 May '10  
 
GeneralThere's nothing like trying something new Pin
Saturday, February 14, 2004 9:02 AM
Pole dancing![^] Roll eyes | :rolleyes:
 
The scene of the crime? Mummies[^] in Pattaya. Cool | :cool:
 
It was quite a night. After going to see Natta dancing on her final night at the Honeypot Bar on Soi 9, we grabbed some some roadside munchies and took a Baht Bus (much more fun than a taxi) for the trip to the club at 2am.
 
I've not danced so hard in years (I broke a heel jumping off stage at one point!)...and when they started playing rock at 4am that was it, and I joined my friend Helen for some impromptu pole-dancing.
 
It was rather fun, and I'll certainly do it again...Cool | :cool:
 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

 
GeneralHello from Thailand! Pin
Friday, November 28, 2003 8:06 PM
Hi everyone!
 
I've now managed to get a (somewhat intermittent and only 26k Laugh | :laugh: ) net connection established here in room 307 at the Mercure Hotel in Chonburi so while I've a little time this afternoon I thought it was time I said hello and thank you for all the moral support I received before embarking on my big adventure. I'm not getting time to track what's happening here (or anywhere else for that matter) so my apologies if I'm a little slow replying!
 
The big question of course is "How did it go?". Well I'm happy to say that the surgery (on the 14th) went so smoothly that Dr. Suporn completed it in 5 hours - which surprised even him! The staff at the clinic & hospital have all been brilliant (several I now consider to be close personal friends) and I've only had two causes for complaint - neither major, and both being dealt with. Neither affects me in particular, by the way.
 
I'm healing well and no longer in any significant pain, although I've learnt a fair bit about pain and painkillers (anyone tried morphine? OMG | :OMG: ).
 
The atmosphere out here is fantastic, and I've met some new good friends - both at the clinic and other patients from around the world. Quite an adventure. I've also kept a very detailed diary which tells the story of my adventure here.
 
I hope it's not "too much information" for anyone - although the diary[^] is candid and detailed, I've restricted the pictures that bring it to life (with one exception at the beginning of the third page which I felt necessary for those following me - and it's not gruesome in any way) to ones unlikely to upset anyone or the organisation they work for.
 
It goes without saying that if you or your organisation are likely to find the content difficult, please don't read it. If you do then complain, I'll set my halberd on you... Poke tongue | ;-P
 
Hugs to everyone. I've been thinking of you all during my adventure here.
 
Until I get back, khàwp khun khâ!

 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

 
General8 weeks to go! Pin
Thursday, September 18, 2003 2:41 AM
I'm quite frankly stunned.
 
After three weeks of what can only be described as sheer emotional torture, something's finally happened to swing things back entirely the other way. I'm not out of the woods yet, but this will most certainly help!
 
I originally made enquiries of the Suporn Clinic[^] about my surgery (combined Genital Reassignment Surgery and Facial Feminisation Surgery) in June, at which time they weren't yet scheduling for January 2004, when I was intending to have surgery. I'd already moved the date forwards once (from Spring, which I'd opted for in part to fit in with work) after realising I couldn't wait that long.
 
When the Clinic opened its scheduling at the end of August I was informed that they were no longer booking combined (GRS + FFS) procedures (for reasons I completely understand). However, that left me with a problem, as my company limits paid sick leave to 13 weeks per calendar year.
 
With my GRS booked for 21st January, I just couldn't see a way to fit in the FFS the same year...and the lack of certainly and doubt in my mind about what to do has only served to aggravate the problems of isolation and resultant depression I was already having at work (which were already bad enough, believe me).
 
By this Monday morning I was finally "with it" enough to write back to the clinic and inform them of the difficulties I was having. I also wrote an initial enquiry about FFS to Brian Musgrove in Manchester (a UK surgeon specialising in FFS), as a possible fallback.
 
I haven't had a reply from Musgrove yet but it's now rather academic, as yesterday morning I had an email from the Suporn Clinic informing me that a cancellation date might be available this year. A flurry of emails ensued, the end result of which is that as of yesterday evening my GRS has now been rebooked for 14th November!!!
 
Words aren't adequate here. I'm absolutely and totally stunned, and believe me if I had a bottle of champaigne handy right now there's be a party down here tonight for sure!
 
Incidentally, the date I had booked for GRS (21st January) is now the date of my FFS, so those who expected to bump into me in Thailand then still will...I'll just be a bit more post-op than I expected to be by the evening of 21st January...Roll eyes | :rolleyes:
 
8 weeks to go! Big Grin | :-D

 
Anna Rose | [Rose]
 
Homepage | Tears and Laughter
 
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
 
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
 
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Visual C++ Add-In

GeneralRe: 8 weeks to go! PineditorNishant S5:39 18 Sep '03  
GeneralRe: 8 weeks to go! PinmemberAnna-Jayne Metcalfe8:43 18 Sep '03  

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