Wolfgang Schuster discusses his transition from game to web development, comparing automated testing, dependency management, and release cycles. He explores programming patterns, forking frameworks, manual vs automated testing, and balancing code optimization. The conversation delves into coding mistakes, customizing physics in Unreal Engine, and the importance of user experience in both sectors.
Web development relies heavily on automated testing, while game development leans towards manual QA testing for bug detection.
Divergent approaches in dependency management exist between web and game development, with web relying on package managers like NPM.
In the gaming industry, manual testing is crucial for identifying nuanced issues that automated tests might overlook, ensuring game quality.
Deep dives
Transition from Game Development to Web Development
Wolfgang Schuster shares his unique journey from professional game development to web development, highlighting surprising similarities like the concept of game loops found in web frameworks like React, Elm, and other core game development practices that have influenced web development models.
Dependency Management Practices in Web Development and Game Development
The podcast delves into the cultural differences in dependency management between web development and game development. It discusses how web development commonly relies on package managers like NPM for numerous dependencies, while game development often involves fewer and locally stored dependencies, emphasizing the divergent approaches in handling dependencies.
Testing Philosophies: Manual Testing in Game Development vs. Automated Testing in Web Development
A comparison is drawn between the testing philosophies in game development and web development. While game development predominantly relies on manual QA testing, web development showcases a preference for automated testing methodologies. The discussion highlights the impact of manual testing in reducing bugs in game dev and the contrasting emphasis on automation and developer-driven testing in web dev.
The Value of Manual Testing in Gaming Industry
In the gaming industry, manual testing plays a significant role in ensuring the quality of games. Unlike automated testing, manual testing allows QA testers to identify issues like game crashes, rendering artifacts, or unintended access to game areas, which automated tests might miss. Manual testing involves repetitive tasks like shooting or exploration to detect and address potential game-breaking issues. This hands-on approach to testing is essential for maintaining overall game quality and user experience.
Balancing Efficiency and Quality in Software Development
There is a debate between prioritizing efficiency and software quality in development processes. While automated testing can streamline testing procedures, manual testing still holds value in catching nuanced issues that automated tests might overlook. The tension between rapid development cycles and comprehensive testing strategies exists across both web and game development industries. Companies often need to balance the speed of deployment with thorough testing to ensure optimal software performance and user satisfaction.
Richard talks with Wolfgang Schuster about his experiences first as a professional game developer, and then later as a professional Web developer. Theytalk about the differences in programming practices he's seen between the two, including things like automated testing, dependency management, and releases.
