Review – Refactoring
Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code, Martin Fowler et al. Addison-Wesley, 1999. The best printed source on refactoring. Uses Java for the examples. See also the Refactoring home site. (Reviewed Nov., ’02)
Author Archives: Bill Wake
Review – Understanding Computers and Cognition
Understanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for Design, Terry Winograd and Fernando Flores. Addison-Wesley, 1987. My favorite part is the notion of explicit conversations for action: making requests, counter-proposals, etc. (Reviewed Nov., ’02)
Review – The Dance of Change
The Dance of Change, Peter Senge et al. Doubleday, 1999. Describes the challenges of developing an organization’s ability to change. Uses a “system thinking” approach to diagram the patterns of resistance. Has lots of interesting anecdotes. (Reviewed Nov., ’02)
Review – Software For Your Head
Software For Your Head, Jim McCarthy and Michele McCarthy. Addison-Wesley, 2001. This book proposes using a number of facilitation techniques together in what they call the “core protocol.” Their belief is that a team can use these rules together to Continue reading Review – Software For Your Head
Review – Mastery
Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment, George Leonard. Plume, 1992. Mastery is a long but satisfying path to pursue. (Reviewed Nov., ’02)
Review – The Innovator’s Dilemma
The Innovator’s Dilemma, Clayton Christensen. HarperBusiness, 2000. Companies often get successful by giving customers what they want. New companies may begin with a product that is less functional but better on a dimension valued by non-customers. By the time the Continue reading Review – The Innovator’s Dilemma
Review – Quality Software Management, vol. 3: Congruent Action
Quality Software Management, Volume 3: Congruent Action, Gerald M. Weinberg, Dorset House, 1994. Considers software management from the perspective of family therapist Virginia Satir. People can take different incongruent stances: placating, blaming, super-reasonable, or irrelevant. But a congruent stance is Continue reading Review – Quality Software Management, vol. 3: Congruent Action
Review – Quality Software Management, vol. 1: Systems Thinking
Quality Software Management, Volume 1: Systems Thinking, Gerald M. Weinberg, Dorset House, 1992. Starts with “What is quality?” Looks at management patterns for software development, and highlights the importance of feedback. Uses system models (that show interconnections with reinforcing and Continue reading Review – Quality Software Management, vol. 1: Systems Thinking
Reivew – Agile Software Development with Scrum
Agile Software Development with Scrum, Ken Schwaber and Mike Beedle. Prentice Hall, 2001. Scrum explicitly relies on the emergence of a true team. By focusing on 30-day sprints, daily standup meetings, and management’s ability to remove obstacles, a team has Continue reading Reivew – Agile Software Development with Scrum
Review – Software Craftsmanship (McBreen)
Software Craftsmanship, Pete McBreen. Addison-Wesley, 2001. Makes the case that software is neither art nor science, but craft, and that we should organize our education and work life to reflect that. (Reviewed Nov., ’02)