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Case Study · 2026

PinCheck Dashboard

A Python QA scoreboard that replaced manual pin-interface validation tracking — parsers, reruns, waivers, and exportable reports.

RoleSoftware Engineer — Contractor (Synopsys via Teton)
TimelineAug 2025 – Mar 2026
FocusPython · Perl · SQLite · QA
PIN

Context

Engineering teams tracked pin-interface validation in spreadsheets and hand-built reports. PinCheck had to become the single scoreboard: parse, filter, annotate, rerun, export.

The Problem

PinCheck review was slow, scattered, and had no audit trail. Every release cycle recopied the same work.

Process

01

Parse what already existed

YAML and validation logs ingested into filterable structures — multi-column sort, criteria, collateral inspection.

02

Wire the Perl script

alphaPinCheck.pl integrated with rerun controls, execution logs, and direct links to artifacts.

03

Snapshots and waivers

SQLite for result snapshots; regex matching, expiry dates, and auditable logging for permanent and temporary waivers.

Decisions

A scoreboard, not a new workflow

Engineers already ran Perl and YAML. The tool attached to that pipeline instead of replacing it.

History is the source of truth

Without snapshots and audit, waivers vanished between cycles. SQLite made them inspectable.

Outcome

Targeted 50% improvement in review and analysis quality

~96 engineering hours saved per release cycle across 12 projects

Reflection

The best internal tool is the one that hooks the existing pipeline — not the one that asks people to change jobs.