Dr. Watson’s Observational Patterns (Part 3)
Demands and goals?
That he [Sherlock Holmes] could play pieces, and difficult pieces, I knew well, because at my request he has played me some of Mendelssohn’s Lieder, and other favourites. When left to himself, however, he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognized air.
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 21
Typical memory dump analyst is sought after by different classes of corporate citizens:
I [Dr. Watson] found that he [Sherlock Holmes] had many acquaintances, and those in the most different classes of society.
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 21
Layers of problem solvers (support levels 1, 2 and 3):
When these fellows are at fault, they come to me [Sherlock Holmes], and I manage to put them on the right scent.
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 23
One thousand and one memory dump:
There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and if you have all the details of a thousand at your finger ends, it is odd if you can’t unravel the thousand and first.
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 23
Memory analysis producers and consumers:
I [Sherlock Holmes] listen to their story, they listen to my comments, […]
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 23
May be we should stop reasoning sometimes and just ask a memory dump. My favourite example is printer driver elimination for spooler crashes (uninstall one by one and test), where the reasoning technique can drive you mad. It is better to dump and look inside:
The train of reasoning ran, […]
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 23
Problem solving anti-patterns?
The question was how to identify an unknown prisoner. I could have done it in twenty-four hours. Lecoq took six months or so. It might be made a textbook for detectives to teach them what to avoid.
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 24
Problem description specifies software version X. The customer insists. The dump points to version X-1. The customer retreats:
Here was an opportunity of taking the conceit out of him [Sherlock Holmes].
A Study in Scarlet, Part 1, 2: The Science of Deduction, page 25
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -