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A Discipline for Software Engineering Watts S. Humphrey. 1995. Addison-Wesley Professional (http://www.pearsonhighered. com/). 816 pages. ISBN-IO: 0201546108 ISBN-13: 978-0201546101
GSQE Body of Knowledge areas: Software Quality Management, Systems and Software Engineering Processes, Project Managemen
I wrote my first review for A Discipline for Software Engineering almost 13 years ago. It follows if you care to read it. I think my comments reflect both my feelings and my belief that building quality software, when it does happen, is the result of individuals and their efforts to both build the right thing, and build the thing right.
So what's changed in 13 years? First, the magazine I wrote for no longer exists. In 2001 the Agile Manifesto (http://agilemanifesto. org/) was written. And coming full circle, in 2009 the Manifesto for Software Craftsmanship (http:// man if esto.sof twa recraf tsmanship.org/) brings one back to the realization that people create software, and improving individual development skills leads to well-crafted software.
Many of the ideas I read about in this book exist in agile development methods. Inspect and adapt what you're doing looking for something to improve. Keep current meaningful data. Have a group to work with for support and encouragement.
Perhaps one thing I left out of the original review is best summarized in the book itself:
"There are three potential personal costs of using a PSP, as follows:
I.The time required to learn it
2. The emotional cost of maintaining the needed discipline
3. The potential risk to your ego
In addition to providing the data needed to handle management pressure, the PSP offers many other potential benefits:
* The insight one gains into one's talents and abilities
* The stimulation of an almost unlimited stream of improvement ideas
* The framework it provides for personal improvement
* The degree of control one gain's over his or her work
* The feeling of pride and personal accomplishment
* An improved basis for effective teamwork
* The conviction to do the job the way one know he or she should"
Neither the...