If software engineering has to be recognized as a true profession like other conventional engineering fields it has to inculcate the discipline of better measurements, better benchmarks, better quality control, and better security during the process of software development. Thus opines Caper Jones, the author of this book who is a well-respected authority in this field.
He also says that majority of the best-practice claims in software engineering fields are not based on solid measurements using valid metrics. In this book he attempts to remedy the situation by describing the best practices where the available quantitative data proves their effectiveness at least to some extent.
This book is a result of extensive research by Caper Jones and provides lots of data and information. However there are several instances of repetitive information (for e.g. project taxonomy description) in this book, which could have been avoided. Also I felt that Chapter 3 (A Preview of Software Development and Maintenance in 2049) was rather unnecessary. These have increased the bulk (and the price??) of the book.
The book serves more as a pointer to best practices rather than providing in-depth understanding and know-how of implementing them. I was expecting more case studies in the book of this type. Besides I came across very few best practices which I was not earlier aware of.
On the whole a good reference book, especially if you need to do some research or need some facts and figures for arguing the case of a best practice. But I don’t otherwise consider it as a MUST Read book.
Read more about this book at Bookworm Reads: Software Engineering Best Practices.
