About
In Modern Software Engineering, David Farley, a pioneer in continuous delivery, offers a comprehensive approach to improving software development practices. This book is designed for professionals at all levels, from programmers to managers, and focuses on enhancing creativity, effectiveness, and ultimately, the quality of code. Farley presents a unified, scientific framework for addressing practical software development challenges within realistic constraints. He emphasizes two core exercises: learning and exploration, and managing complexity. The book provides principles and approaches that can help developers improve their mindset, code quality, and overall success in software projects. Farley's ideas aim to create a durable and pervasive approach to software engineering that can adapt to future technologies and unforeseen challenges. By offering deeper insights into daily development practices, the book promises to help readers create better software more efficiently, while also increasing personal fulfillment. Key areas covered include clarifying objectives, selecting appropriate tools, organizing work for incremental progress, evaluating systems beyond legacy code, leveraging experimentation and empiricism, managing growing complexity, balancing rigor with flexibility, learning from history, and discerning valuable new ideas in software development.
Paperback
English
1st Edition
Addison Wesley
Publication date: January 26, 2022
256 pages
ISBN-10 : 0137314914
ISBN-13 : 978-0137314911
Features
Focus on Core Engineering Principles:
The book emphasizes durable principles at the heart of effective software development, distilling the discipline into two core exercises: learning and exploration, and managing complexity. This foundational approach aims to be applicable across various technologies and future challenges.
Practical and Adaptable Methodology:
Farley presents a unified, scientific approach to solving practical software development problems within realistic economic constraints. The book offers strategies that can be applied to current technologies and adapted for future ones, making it a long-term resource for professionals.
Comprehensive Coverage for All Levels:
The book is written for a wide audience including programmers, managers, and technical leads at all experience levels. It covers a range of topics from improving individual mindset to enhancing code quality and project management.
Balance of Theory and Practice:
The book combines theoretical principles with practical approaches. It includes ideas for improving the software development process, techniques for better code writing, and strategies for project management, all while considering real-world constraints and emphasizing continual learning and adaptation.
Benefits
Reading Modern Software Engineering by David Farley offers several benefits:
Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: The book provides a foundational approach to solving software development challenges, potentially improving your ability to tackle complex issues.
Improved Code Quality: By focusing on core engineering principles, readers can learn techniques to write better, more efficient code.
Career Advancement: The comprehensive coverage of software engineering practices can help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and knowledge, potentially leading to career growth.
Increased Productivity: The book offers strategies for organizing work and systems to facilitate continual progress, which could lead to faster and more efficient development processes.
Better Project Management: Managers and team leads can gain insights into effective project management techniques specific to software development.
Adaptability to New Technologies: The principles discussed are designed to be applicable to both current and future technologies, helping readers stay relevant in a rapidly evolving field.
Enhanced Decision-Making: The book provides criteria for choosing tools and distinguishing good ideas from bad ones, potentially improving decision-making in software projects.
Improved System Design: Readers can learn how to evaluate progress towards creating thriving systems, moving beyond just maintaining legacy code.
Personal Fulfillment: The book aims to help readers find more pleasure and personal fulfillment in their work, potentially improving job satisfaction.
Balanced Approach to Rigor: Learn how to achieve necessary rigor in development without becoming overly rigid, striking a balance that can lead to more successful outcomes.
Historical Perspective: Gain insights from software development history and experience, helping to avoid past mistakes and build on proven successes.
Experimentation and Empiricism: The book encourages gaining more value from experimentation and empirical approaches, which can lead to innovation and continuous improvement.
Complexity Management: Learn strategies for staying in control as systems grow more complex, a crucial skill in modern software development.
Mindset Improvement: The book aims to help readers think about their work more effectively, potentially leading to overall professional growth.
These benefits can contribute to both personal development and improved outcomes in software engineering projects.