Steve McConnell Microsoft Press, Paperback, Published June 1996, 647 pages, ISBN 1556159005
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• Programming : Software Development

• Microsoft Press

• The best rapid-development strategies that can be applied to any project
• Candid discussions of great and not-so-great rapid-development practices--estimation, prototyping, forced overtime, motivation, teamwork, rapid-development languages, risk management, and many others
• A list of classic mistakes to avoid for rapid-development projects, including creeping requirements, shortchanged quality, and silver-bullet syndrome
• Case studies that vividly illustrate what can go wrong, what can go right, and how to tell in which direction your project is headed

Nov 26, 2005     
Old but not outdated
I came across this book by accident - I had some free time and this huge book was gathering dust in the library.

Holy cow - why haven't I read it before? A very thorough examination of schedule practices, techniques, and pitfalls.

I laughed my head off at the case studies (boy, have I been _there_), and implemented some ideas in first week of reading this.

This is a 650-page howto, and is %97 practical even 9 years later, including many agile practices from before the term was coined (e.g. incremental developement - a.k.a "the evolving prototype").

Have someone on your team read this, and I predict you'll see differences quickly, especially if they are influential with the project management, or better yet, _are_ the project management. That was certainly my experience.

Mar 10, 2001     
buy one for you and one for your boss
The author very correctly points out that when projects fail it is usually because of poor project and/or lifecycle management. He then gives the kind of common sense solutions that we all know and ignore. This book could have saved most failed projects. This book should be read by everyone who is even remotely involved in software development, from the junior software tester to the CEO.

The author doesn't offer silver bullets, just fundamentals. But it's because we forget the fundamentals that we keep getting burned in this business.

Oct 14, 2000     LauraS@austin.rr.com from Austin, TX
Much More than Rapid - it's Solid Development
Details a comprehensive development process that makes good sense (IE - that's why it's rapid). Covers a lot of ground not found in other texts on software development. Plus it's enjoyable to read.

What you won't find are specific methodologies to develop systems. That's OK because this book is about all of the other stuff you have to do to manage successful projects (estimating, Risk management, Life cycle approaches, staffing).

The book also has an extensive reference listings after each chapter - directing you to additional sources - very helpful.

Feb 3, 2000     Roy Morien from Perth, Australia (close to the edge of the World)
A practical guide to common sense systems development practice
I was recommended to read this book by a project manager who said that they have 6 copies in their office - and they were constantly referred to. As an academic teaching development practice, emphasising prototyping, development tools, productivity etc. I couldn't resist the chance to adopt a book with these credentials. I have not been disappointed! Every page has something useful to say - pragmatic, sensible, useful. Throw away your current college and university texts on systems analysis and design - replace them with this one - get real (real world, that is!)

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