Test problem
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I am taking a course in programming. They give you practical tests where they actually ask you to write programs for the tests. On one particular test we were asked to make a simple web site that had a user sign up with email and verification and also allowed them to retrieve their password if they forgot it. There also needed to be a login page and an internal page that could be accessed only by those that were logged in as well as an admin page that was only accessible by admins. They failed me on the basis that my database was not in the app_data folder and therefore didn't work right away. No where on the test instructions did it mention anything to do with having to be made in this way and not only that, I contend that the best way to write web apps is to have the database hosted in sql server. It takes a little setup, but it has much more versatility than file based. They contend however that if this was a customer they wouldn't be able to open it and maybe could have bad ramifications. I contend that this is ridiculous since if it was a customer, they wouldn't even own a copy of visual studio rather I would host the web site on my machine for demonstration purposes or if i had a web server i would put it there. I would like to see what people think about this.
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I am taking a course in programming. They give you practical tests where they actually ask you to write programs for the tests. On one particular test we were asked to make a simple web site that had a user sign up with email and verification and also allowed them to retrieve their password if they forgot it. There also needed to be a login page and an internal page that could be accessed only by those that were logged in as well as an admin page that was only accessible by admins. They failed me on the basis that my database was not in the app_data folder and therefore didn't work right away. No where on the test instructions did it mention anything to do with having to be made in this way and not only that, I contend that the best way to write web apps is to have the database hosted in sql server. It takes a little setup, but it has much more versatility than file based. They contend however that if this was a customer they wouldn't be able to open it and maybe could have bad ramifications. I contend that this is ridiculous since if it was a customer, they wouldn't even own a copy of visual studio rather I would host the web site on my machine for demonstration purposes or if i had a web server i would put it there. I would like to see what people think about this.
You are right and you are wrong. You are right in that it is ridiculous to bring a customer experience into a test scenario. You are wrong in that you did not give your customers (the examiners) what they wanted. Stating that the instructions were not explicitly defined in the test is not valid either, you are supposed to think about how the client is going to consume your web site. And for gods sake will you PLEASE use the enter key and create some paragraphs, I very nearly didn't bother reading this.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I am taking a course in programming. They give you practical tests where they actually ask you to write programs for the tests. On one particular test we were asked to make a simple web site that had a user sign up with email and verification and also allowed them to retrieve their password if they forgot it. There also needed to be a login page and an internal page that could be accessed only by those that were logged in as well as an admin page that was only accessible by admins. They failed me on the basis that my database was not in the app_data folder and therefore didn't work right away. No where on the test instructions did it mention anything to do with having to be made in this way and not only that, I contend that the best way to write web apps is to have the database hosted in sql server. It takes a little setup, but it has much more versatility than file based. They contend however that if this was a customer they wouldn't be able to open it and maybe could have bad ramifications. I contend that this is ridiculous since if it was a customer, they wouldn't even own a copy of visual studio rather I would host the web site on my machine for demonstration purposes or if i had a web server i would put it there. I would like to see what people think about this.
It sounds like the real test was to make a functional frame work within the alotted time and you missed it. A customer will often ask for things in a short amount of time it is up to you to make design decisions that allow you to get to your presentation and show your customers they made the right choise in hirering you. Give them something that works first, specially if the deadline is short. You can always add to the work later or if that is the last deadline, speak with them and point out issues that you have, with using a flat file for example and talk them into upgrading to a database server, at and addition charge (we don't work for free). Then set a deadline for that if they agree, one you are certain you can make. The first thing you must do with a customer is meet their expectations! Not yours. All the Best, Chris J. BTW - on a side note and as a general rule I have. I never allow for password retrieval, I have security conserns with that. I instead have the password reset using the original email and email confirmation. I would provide a user profile editor that will allow a logged in user to change thier password at any time. When they reset a randome one is set and email to the user when the system gets a confirmation from the user. Of course I explain my concerns to a customer in this issue and if they still want retrieval I will make it.