.NET is a whole new way to program. It has taken me a while to get used to using it, but now I feel that .NET is the future of developing code. The two main features that .NET brings are the runtime and the Framework Class Library. The runtime executes all .NET code and provides a secure environment. The Framework Class Library is available to all .NET code regardless of the language that is used to create that code. The library is a culmination of all the libraries that Win32 developers are accustomed to using, and some APIs are provided through a new paradigm, but others are mere mirrors of the Win32 APIs that they replace. The significant point is that all of the APIs are accessed in the same way, so the application developer no longer has to learn multiple ways to access libraries (DLL exported functions, class libraries, template libraries, COM). The intention is to put more focus on using the APIs than on accessing them. I have spent a considerable amount of time determining how .NET works and how the various classes in the library are related. On occasion it was a joy to see how .NET had provided a new API that put more power in the hands of the developer, and on a few occasions I was frustrated to see that .NET had provided a solution that reduced the facilities offered to the developer. In this book I want to give you the benefit of my odyssey through .NET. I will enthuse when .NET does it right, and I will tell you straight when .NET does it wrong. One thing is clear: .NET is here to stay. Expect in the future that Microsoft will put more and more emphasis on .NET. Your future as a developer will be intimately entwined with .NET, and by becoming familiar with .NET now, you’ll ensure that you’ll be ready for whatever Microsoft decides to release in the future. Intended Audience I have deliberately decided to target C++ Win32 developers.

The completely updated “field manual” for becoming a better software architect!

The crucial skills you need to survive and thrive as an enterprise software architect! Fully updated for the latest techniques-from lightweight methods and architectural layers to Model-Driven Architecture and UML 2.0!

In this book, Raphael Malveau and Thomas J. Mowbray share up-to-the-minute insights and practical solutions for all the key challenges of building enterprise software systems with objects, components, and Internet technologies. You’ll master today’s best technical and business practices for the entire project lifecycle as you discover how to avoid crucial pitfalls and costly errors.

With hands-on exercises, real-life war stories, and a take-no-prisoners attitude, Software Architect Bootcamp, Second Edition, won’t just help you become a great software architect: it’ll help you become a true technical leader of your organization.

The corporate market is now embracing free, “open source” software like never before, as evidenced by the recent success of the technologies underlying LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP). Each is the result of a publicly collaborative process among numerous developers who volunteer their time and energy to create better software.

The truth is, however, that the overwhelming majority of free software projects fail. To help you beat the odds, O’Reilly has put together Producing Open Source Software, a guide that recommends tried and true steps to help free software developers work together toward a common goal. Not just for developers who are considering starting their own free software project, this book will also help those who want to participate in the process at any level.

The book tackles this very complex topic by distilling it down into easily understandable parts. Starting with the basics of project management, it details specific tools used in free software projects, including version control, IRC, bug tracking, and Wikis. Author Karl Fogel, known for his work on CVS and Subversion, offers practical advice on how to set up and use a range of tools in combination with open mailing lists and archives. He also provides several chapters on the essentials of recruiting and motivating developers, as well as how to gain much-needed publicity for your project.

While managing a team of enthusiastic developers — most of whom you’ve never even met — can be challenging, it can also be fun. Producing Open Source Software takes this into account, too, as it speaks of the sheer pleasure to be had from working with a motivated team of free software developers.

Purchasing this book could change your future Recognize a good idea and gauge its chances Analyze and research your market Learn what investors look for in a business venture Make your planning pay Pick a winning team Know when to reach for ready-mades Effectively deal with blocks to success Keep the process on schedule Work within your budget Learn from winners Control the product launch Discover the secrets of keeping customers Hang on to your hard-earned profits Plan for future growth Creating successful software looks easy, and that is its initial appeal for many who attempt to do it. In truth, very few individuals who start off with a really bright idea ever reach the finish line successfully.
The reason is simple until now, no one had a logical road map to follow. Written by one of the most experienced entrepreneurs in the era of the Internet, this book steers you around the classic pitfalls. Ed Hasted explains what successful software pioneers have discovered, and how you too can overcome the many stumbling blocks. You don’t have to be a conceptual genius, programmer, accountant, researcher, statistician, manager, designer, marketer, and award-winning salesman combined to reach your goals. You just need to know which bits of professional wisdom should be used at each stage. Read this book as you begin your journey to software success. It will turn a complex process into common sense.

The new software management classic: in-the-trenches wisdom from legendary project leader Joe Marasco

Over
the course of a distinguished career, Joe Marasco earned a reputation
as the go-to software project manager: the one to call when you were
facing a brutally tough, make-or-break project. Marasco reflected on
his experiences in a remarkable series of “Franklin’s Kite” essays for The Rational Edge,
Rational and IBM’s online software development magazine. Now, Marasco
collects and updates those essays, bringing his unique insights (and
humor) to everything from modeling to scheduling, team dynamics to
compensation. The result: a new classic that deserves a place alongside
Frederick Brooks’ The Mythical Man-Month in the library of
every developer and software manager. If you want to ship products
you’re proud of… ship on time and on budget… deliver real customer
value… you simply must read
Highlights include
How software projects resemble other projects�and how they’re different
The iterative problem-solving clock: ending the day with real solutions
The realities of scheduling: How late are you going to be?
Trade-offs, estimating, project rhythm, and getting products out the door
Understanding what you’re seeing, hearing, and feeling as a software manager
The human element: politics, negotiation, compensation, culture, and growth
Avoiding crises before they happen… and mitigating them when they do
Thinking laterally: original ideas in software project management