5 comments about Software Configuration Management Patterns: Effective Teamwork, Practical Integration (Software Patterns Series).

1. There really aren't too many books that cover the subject of SCM and this one does a very good job of overviewing all the issues. Although he does give examples and opinions on different tools and platforms, the book is not written for any particular one. I especially like the fact that he is coming from a developer's perspective in the sense that the need for SCM has been brought upon him, like most of us, and it's not something he initially persued. Things like source control directory structure, versioning, builds, build policies, etc. are issues that are eventually dealt with by tech leads and/or tech managers but few usually have any formal experience with it. Anyone who has been in a small or large development shop knows how critical these issues are to the entire development process.
   
   I also bought Build Master by Vincent Maraia which is also an excellent book but I felt that his position has always been specifically a build master and the book dealt with very large build projects that had dedicated teams. In constrast, Berczuk and Appleton's book is more broad so that a lone developer/manager assigned to the daunting tasks of setting up SCM environments can achieve this and have a general guide for holding down the fort.



2. Objective, clear and simple. War stories told by a intellectually savvy trooper are not complex. They tell us about complex scenarios in a simple way. Field experience. It's what this book is all about. Not about procedures, but practices based on well known, or not so, patterns, for you to use with your teams to win your battles. It's up to you. Think about them. Use them wisely.
   Sorry for the military metaphor but seemed to me appropriate.



3. I am surprised to apparently be the only person to find this book disappointing. Let me go into the details.
   
   Physical book.
   I rarely comment on the physical book but I need to mention the bad printing. Many pictures and graphs in the book are not printed correctly. Instead they appear as gray rectangles.
   
   Content.
   The book is divided into three parts: an introduction, the Software Configuration Management (SCM) patterns, and appendices with information on SCM systems.
   
   The introduction does not provide useful information. The author spends time defining generic concepts (such as 'organization') without bringing any insights to configuration management. I assume that part was written to fill in the book. You can safely skip it.
   
   The patterns are the meat of the book. Some of the patterns are useful and nicely presented. For example, the need for a mainline and how to branch before a release are the two that stand out. They are good advice. Unfortunately most patterns are not explained appropriately. For example, the author presents several patterns related to tests (unit tests, smoke tests, regression tests). However the patterns do not properly make the connection to configuration management. For example: what are the best practices to integrate tests with SCM? The answer is not in the book. Overall I felt let down by the patterns. If you have some experience working in a group using a SCM, you won't learn anything new.
   
   The final part about the various SCM systems is again a filler with little usefulness. You will learn a lot more by reading the manual of the SCM you are using.
   
   There are several topics I wish had been included:
   - Topology: how best to distribute the SCM system.
   - Buddy builds: what are the best practices related to buddy builds, i.e., building before making a check-in.
   
   I was looking forward to reading this book. Now that I have, I feel very much let down. The useful information could be contained in less than 10 pages.



4. This is an outstanding book for software development teams that see software configuration management as a means to an end, not the end itself. The author immediately establishes credibility with me when he says in the preface "Software configuration management is not what I do. I am not a software configuration management person...I build software systems" Exactly! It's obvious throughout the book that the authors develop software systems and use SCM to effectively support their development effort, not the other way around.
   
   The format of the book is very consistent and thus very easy to read. Each pattern has its own chapter and clearly identifies the problem and the solution in a particular context. It doesn't waste any paper and is a quick read and has been a reference I continue to use on a regular basis. The authors have taken something that can quickly become complex and make it easy to understand.
   
   The authors have a very natural writing style and effectively use sidebars to bring their real-world experiences to the pattern. This book is a must read for software developers. I wish I could give it six stars.
   
   Given my background in CI, I was most drawn to the Mainline, Private Workspace, Repository, Private System Build, Integration Build, Regression Test, and Third Party Codeline patterns. But, there is something for all developers and teams here.



5. If you have source control and a continuous build then you don't need this book. This book has two chapters telling you why and when to branch in CVS. Ten years ago, I would have found this book useful.

5 comments about Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users.

1. If you analyze data and make maps, this is well worth the money.
   It helps if you use ArcGIS too....



2. Since I am relatively new to the world of GIS Mapping, this book was an invaluable aid to designing more attractive maps. It's a beautifully laid-out book with lots of common-sense tips in it. Well worth the price!
   
   Linda Pierce
   Pray, Montana



3. This book reviews the very basics of map design and hardly touches on cartographic representations. It is probably a good starting point for first timers to GIS and mapping, but for the average map maker/cartographer it is too rudimentary.



4. An excellent book, but a bit tedious. Gives the GIS user an excellent review of what makes a map visually useful. GIS users aren't necessarily the best cartographers and this can help them along



5. This book addresses all major topics needed when considering what color to assign to a group of layers, which symbols and scales to use, how to annotate maps and how to complement maps with text boxes.
   
   It is well written so it's easy reading and does not require extensive background from other fields.
   
   Getting from here to there is simple enough by scanning the chapter index.
   
   Great reference for map designers, both beginners and experienced ones.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Game Audio: For Composers, Musicians, Sound Designers, and Game Developers.

1. This is a great book for those composers and sound designers wanting to break into the gaming industry. I do not understand why many people read this book hoping to find technical audio information, but this is NOT a TECHNICAL AUDIO or ENGINEERING book. This book is in the same vein as Jeff Rona's Reelworld book or Richard Davis's Complete Guide to Filmscoring.
   
   Invaluable industry advice and at preparing your audio demo reels, and making connections. Must have for any aspiring game music composer or sound designer.



2. This book is very well written, its easy to go through it quickly. One of the features I really like is the different interviews with game music composers asking everything from equipment to techniques to inspiration.
   
   This book gives a detailed look into the industry, don't expect to learn how to compose from buying this book. This book is for musicians that are beginning or are already working with computer games and need to know about the industry. Sorry but there will never be books around pretending to teach you how to compose music, composing like anything else is something that you learn by doing and not by reading books. But if you are a musician already, and love computer games, then you won't regret this book.



3. This book contains very good and valuable information for those wanting to get into the game industry, unfortunately it was written in 2000, so most of the information is completely old for today standards, specially in this field.



4. I've been working in the field of game audio on the content side for about 5 years. I got this book as I was starting out and I found it a quick, easy read that offered alot of helpful insight and pretty much everything Marks said has held true in my experience. There are people complaining here that this book doesn't offer deep technical information or insight on how to provide content or help with audio programming and that's true. Maybe the title could have been clearer - it's more an idea of what game audio is about and what it's like to work in that field. But if that's what you're looking for, it's a quite worth reading and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know how to break into the industry on the audio side.



5. I found this book an excellent resource for a composer like me. Not only does it addresses elementary issues, but takes readers into intermediate topics which are very useful for someone getting into gaming audio.

5 comments about Advanced FPGA Design: Architecture, Implementation, and Optimization.

1. I found the book to be quite helpful. I liked the presentation of practical examples. I would recommend this book any serious FPGA designer.



2. I felt the author was well versed in real-world FPGA design. This book doesn't discuss any of the basics, but does an excellent job in explaining topics such as architecting for speed, synthesis, and place and route optimization, etc. This is the most useful FPGA book that I've read.



3. Finally! A book that actually talks about advanced design techniques instead of giving a historical overview of FPGA design.
   
   I have to admit that I didn't read this book cover to cover. Rather, I use it for reference as needed. It's starting to get that same tabbed look that my other reference books have.



4. This is a great reference book for any level FPGA designer. This book skips past the basics unlike most books on FPGA design and jumps right into advanced topics that practical FPGA designers need to be aware of.
   
   Plenty of discussion on the trade offs that must be faced in FPGA design based on you desired optimization target (speed, size, & power) and discussion of methods to achieve that goal. Lots of practical example code is used to illustrate each topic.
   
   Discussion of simulation techniques and coverage which is becoming a key factor in verifying HDL based designs.
   
   This book contains several topics that I have been waiting to see discussed well in a textbook including floorplanning and the pitfall of using asynchronous resets.
   
   Besides HDL design techniques, the author discusses the PCB level design methodologies that must be used when designing an FPGA into a system. This disscussion is a great complement to this already fine book.



5. while there's a veritable sea of books discussing VHDL and other hardware design technologies, there's precious little in the realm of practical, roll up your sleeves and get the job done FPGA design info.
   
   mr. kilts takes a very pragmatic hands-on approach to FPGA design and implementation with logs of examples, practical board level design advice and a book layout that focuses on what you need to get the job done.
   
   the coverage of simulation techniques and considerations alone, is worth the price.

3 comments about The Web Collection Revealed Standard Edition: Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Flash CS3 & Fireworks CS3 (Revealed).

1. I purchased this book primarily for information on Flash CS3 and Photoshop CS3. I don't have anything to compare it to in regard to these two features, but it is clear to me that the section on Dreamweaver CS3 is not nearly as thorough as the book "Dreamweaver MX 2004" which I purchased several years ago.
   
   I just tried to read up on a couple of Dreamweaver topics in "The Web Collection Revealed" but couldn't find them mentioned. I didn't have any trouble finding the topics covered in my "DREAMWEAVER MX 2004" and the instruction from MX 2004 still worked in the CS3 version of Dreamweaver.



2. This is one of several tutorial packages I bought at the same time to help me learn the Adobe CS3 suite of web-related programs. I wanted to determine which was the best to start with, so I sampled a couple of chapters from each of about six titles before deciding this was the clearly best of the group to get me started. My main interest is in learning Flash, but I've got a use for almost everything in the CS3 suite. This book provided an unanticipated motivation to stop avoiding Dreamweaver and take a fresh look at Fireworks as well. (I no longer find FW redundant in a world dominated by PS and IL.) I can't say enough about how exquisite this book is, and the inclusion of camouflage nature scenes was a smart move. It is well organized, nicely paced and I haven't found any glitches yet, which is seldom the case with tutorial books. If you are just starting out with CS3, my advice, and I write educational books for a living, is to start with WC Revealed and then you'll have better info on how to decide what will be your next move. Everyone associated with this book can be proud of the results. Kudos, and thanks. I'd give it more stars if I could.



3. The book is great if you simply want an introduction to Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks or (Photoshop in the premium edition). The Dreamweaver section is not very thorough and the Flash section is somewhat difficult to follow. Overall I was able to master Dreamweaver and Fireworks so two out of three aint bad. The book is definately worth it.

5 comments about GWT in Action: Easy Ajax with the Google Web Toolkit.

1. I liked this book. It walks you though the subject with enough detail to get you started. It will not give you a very deep insight into how GWT is implemented, but still leaves you with sufficient understanding and plenty of practical examples to borrow



2. This is the 2nd book I bought to do GWT. "GWT in Action" is by far the best book to learn GWT (at least when I bought it in summer 2007). Since I had already been using GWT, I used this book to successfully resolve a number of issues I was having, especially with event handling.
   
   An area that could use improvement in future editions is explaining how to integrate with existing javascript code libraries, something that really has to be assumed is a requirement with GWT. A good javascript reference, like O'Reilly's "Javascript: The Definitive Guide" should also be acquired.
   
   I use Instantiations GWTDesigner Eclipse plugin to do my code work.



3. I would recommend this book for web developers currently writing web applications in any language and who are looking to add Ajax to their application. Although Java back ends benefit the greatest from GWT with GWT-RPC, JSON, a lightweight data format, can be used and so ASP.NET, PHP, Perl CGI, etc. can be used. Also a great reference guide for those currently using GWT. Here is a more detailed review (and a shameless plug for my blog): http://www.jlhdevelopment.com/wordpress/?p=6
   
   Also check out this title coming out soon: GWT in Practice



4. I am starting with GWT with this book after using various internet tutorials. The book proved really helpful to get me started. As an added bonus, the authors really like to write and provide small yet inspiring examples which you can download and test yourself.
   
   Some reviewer criticized the order of the chapters. I did not have any problems with that - there is a very useful short introduction in the beginning. I could jump ahead to interesting chapters like RPC without any problem.



5. I was very impressed with the quality of the writing as well as the depth of coverage. The authors explain them well and it is easy to follow the examples. I especially liked the fact that authors present GWT code using design pattern, e.g. Facade - I was able to re-factor my own code.
   
   Using this book, I was able to teach myself GWT and also successfully build a GWT based Ajax application at work.

No comments about Getting Started with Flex 3: An Adobe Developer Library Pocket Guide for Developers (Adobe Developer Library).

5 comments about Design of the UNIX Operating System (Prentice Hall Software Series).

1. Maurice Bach's The Design of the Unix Operating System still holds the place of honor on my technical reference bookshelf. After almost 20 years, it provides a clear overview of basic Unix organization and operations and is a model for how technical books should be written. Readers who complain that the text is dated evidently did not bother to notice the 1986 copyright date. Its age, however, has not diminished its clarity of content or usefulness in understanding the Unix operating system. Bach deserves an award for excellence in technical writing.



2. It is one of the greatest books that I have ever read on UNIX. It is a comprhensive yet simple depiction of Unix Operating System. This book is a MUST READ for UNIX / UNIX LIKE Operating System Engineers. It is worth possesing a copy as it can come handy quite regularly. I give it a full go go!



3. While there may be more detail to be found in "The Magic Garden," or more up-to-date coverage in the likes of Vahalia or Schimmel, Bach's opus is, in the view of this twenty-plus-year UNIX guru, unmatched. I say this because only while reading Bach's book do I experience the sense of philsophic structural perfection, of tool-orientation, of practicality-versus-theoretic-efficiency tradeoff, that characterizes the earliest UNIX monographs (Ritchie, Kernighan, Bourne, Lycklama, Ossana; that sort of thing) that busied me as a freshman. Bach imparts to the reader a glorious--and gloriously holistic--depiction of the structure of the UNIX kernel as a unit. Algorithmic details are provided where appropriate. Exceptionally well thought-out exercises stimulate the reader to extend the textual material where meet. The material is assuredly out of date, but I dare you to critize, say, Lions as being "out of date" (whether or not it describes a 25-year-old, 9K-LOC kernel, it is a scripture of paramount importance, a cornerstone of my computer engineering [n.b.: I didn't say "computer science"] library).
   
   For those who are wont to compare Leffler and Bach--if for no other reason than that they are coevals--I heartily endorse Bach over its competitor. It's nice. It's clean. It's precise. You just couldn't ask for more. And, BTW, stay away from "The Magic Garden." I'm not sure that five hundred pages worth of out-of-context code excerpts, inundating the reader with thousands of kernel variables, accomplishes much by way of imparting conceptual understanding.
   
   (I'm reminded: a customer of mine--an older gentleman with a Ph.D. in physics--once asked me for a concise description of the workings of UNIX, something that introduced the basic concepts at a scholarly but not overweight level. I told him I had a recommendation in mind. "You're going to give me 'The Magic Garden'," John complained; "Don't bother. It stinks!" Was John ever surprised when I pointed him to the third entry in Tanenbaum's Modern Operating Systems series. It has concise thirty or forty-page entries on UNIX, MS-DOS, and a handful of others. For those who want to know--from a scientist's viewpoint--what the fundamentals of the UNIX OS and superjacent environment are, what it can do, how one navigates within it, etc., at a _conceptual_ level that trucks not with the details of Bach or Leffler, seek ye Tanenbaum II.)



4. I'm something of an OS freak (not an expert though) and I collect OS books. I've read many of the classics of the field but I think this book is the crowning achievement of OS literature. Here are the arguments to support my claim:
   
   a) It does not go into explaining general OS theory, thus all space can be dedicated to explaining the details of one operating system (Unix System V Release 2). This of course makes it unsuitable for begginers as it assumes you have a good understanding of basic concepts like race conditions, mutual exclusion, data structures, etc. If you're a begginer don't buy this book yet; get "Operating Systems - Design and Implementation" by Tanenbaum & Woodhull or "Operating System Concepts" by Silberschatz, Galvin and Baer.
   
   b) It details EVERY algorithm with C-like pseudocode and adds verbal explanations exemplifying operations running through the algorithms. This is unlike other OS books which sometimes just give general descriptions of algorithms with no examples.
   
   c) Explanations are complemented by many diagrams of data structures in various states of manipulation by the algorithms. This is possibly the most valuable feature of the book as it does wonders to help you understand what the kernel is doing; you get to 'see' how the algorithms work. This sets it apart from practically all other OS books I've read that just mention in passing "... then function 'x' manipulates data structure 'y'" and leave you to find out the implications of these manipulations. Diagrams also make the book superior to mere code listings.
   
   d) Each chapter 'uses' the algorithms explained in the previous chapter to explain higher level functionality. This is much unlike other OS books which are just unstructured and make you loose the big picture of how the various pieces fit together. Chapters also start with an introductory overall view of the current topic.
   
   So, what is not to like about this book? The only thing I can think of is that it deals with a 'dead' OS. Unix System V only runs in a handful of computer installations these days (if any), while its derivatives have changed too much to serve as a reference while reading the book. Still, System V binaries and source are available on the internet, legally of course. Search for The Unix Heritage Society archives. If you want to get really hardcore you can even get a PDP-11 emulator and set up Sys V in it. There are, of course, other books that delve into present day operating systems; "Solaris Internals" , for instance.
   
   Also, Unix-haters might point out this is just another book on Unix. Well, unfortunately there are no books that explain, say MS Windows, at this level of detail; blaim MS. But still, while dealing with the specifics of one single OS, you do get a general understanding of how other OS's might work.
   
   In my humble opinion this book is the 'King of the Hill' of OS literature; it has helped me finally understand things like context switching and memory mapping. An absolute feast to read, particularly if you like Unix.



5. This book is for anyone who wants to know what happens "under the hood" in a UNIX based operating system. I especially like the pseudocode given for various system calls and other important kernel functions. The exercises given at the end of chapters are thought provoking. This book is not about how to learn/work in UNIX. Some of the topics such as streams may not be relevant in some of the current implementations of UNIX (or clones of UNIX), but most of the book is still relevant.

5 comments about Hot Topics Flashcards for Passing the PMP and CAPM Exams (Audio Version)(5th Edition).

1. This Audio CD is an excellent supporting material for preparing for the PMP Exam. Rita Mulcahy hits the nail right on the head with this preparation material.



2. I passed the PMP exam on my first try weeks ago. I didn't attend any prep class. The only materials I used to prepare for PMP were three books and 1 CD I got here from Amazon. Besides, English is not my first language. So I guess I read slower than most exam takers.
   
   
   Here is my comment for them:
   
   - The PMP Exam: How to Pass On Your First Try, by Andy Crowe
   I think this was the single most useful resource that helped me pass the exam. The content of it is well organized and self contained. It took me about 3 weeks to read it cover to cover. And after that, I felt much comfortable about the system of both PM process groups & knowledge areas. It was a pity that I did't really have time to re-read it before the exam or use the free 1 week online resource it provided. Or it should make my test experience easier.
   Bottom line: HIGHLY recommend.
   
   - PMP In Depth: Project Management Professional Study Guide for PMP and CAPM Exams, by Paul Sanghera
   I bought this one simply because it got pretty good rating on Amazon, but I have to say it's pretty disappointing. First, the process group oriented approach to organize this book is a good try. It should be easier for most rookies to have a good idea about the big picture of PM. However, I don't think the author did a very good job on mapping processes in different knowledge areas with related process groups. Besides, this may be the first book I've ever read that goes with so many typos and mistakes. I really wonder if it has been edited or proofread before publishing.
   Bottom line: NOT recommend.
   
   - PMP Exam Quicklet: Project Management Professional Practice Exams, by Paul Sanghera
   The same author as "PMP In Depth", thus it contains a lot of typos, too. In addition, I don't think those questions in this book will get you a good feel of the real exam questions, because at least 30~40% of them will be much more difficult. When I tried those questions in this book before exam at home, I could easily finish 200 questions in about 2 and half hours and got about 85% correctness. However, it took me more than 3 and half hours and a lot of guesses in the real test. Third, quite a few of the 540 questions in this book are repetitive.
   Bottom line: Somewhat recommend.
   
   - Hot Topics Flashcards for Passing the PMP and CAPM Exams (Audio CD),
   by Rita Mulcahy (Author)
   I spend more than one hour on public transportations everyday during weekdays. That's why I bought this CD. It is a nice review and memory enhancement if you don't mind listening to those boring stuff when you walk or drive.
   Bottom line: Recommend.
   
   - PMP Exam Prep: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam, by Rita Mulcahy
   I did not buy this book, but based on my experience of using the "Hot Topics Flashcards" CD, I believe this should be a pretty good material for the PMP exam.
   Bottom line: HIGHLY Recommend.
   
   
   Overall, my suggestions would be :
   
   1. You should expect to study intensively for 1 to 3 months to pass the exam. (It took me 3) If you plan to spend more than 3 months, you may forget what you study in the first beginning. Better to focus and get it done quickly.
   
   2. Carefully study "The PMP Exam: How to Pass On Your First Try" & "PMP Exam Prep, Fifth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam".
   
   3. Do enough simulation questions (enough = at least 600 questions = 3 full set exams). Be sure to figure out the correct answers of those questions you got wrong.
   
   4. Don't rely on PMBOK as your only resource for PMP preparation. There are some testing materials not even included in it, ex. organization & motivation theories.
   
   5. Be sure to get enough sleep the night before exam. The real questions will be hard and require a very clear mind.



3. This book is worth buying it provides a break down of inputs and outputs to each process or knowledge area. It has a lot of definitions and formulas



4. I found this to be extremely helpful if you are a commuter. I would just take it with on the train / bus and even to work and quiz myself. The book is the meat of it and the flashcards are the seasonings! I think its a great addition to any study material. Just put it in your purse and whenever you have a free moment wherever you're at you can pull it out and quiz yourself. Good buy!



5. I found these audio CDs very useful since you can hear it anywhere anytime while driving. I in fact uploaded it into my iPod, so that I can listen to it anytime. It makes your remember all the definitions and basic concept.
   
   I would highly recommend it to those who are preparing for PMP Certification.

No comments about The Definitive Guide to Grails, Second Edition (The Definitive Guide).