Practical Software Configuration Management: The Latenight Developer's Handbook (Bk/CD-ROM)

by Tim Mikkelsen, Tim Mikkelson, Suzanne Pherigo

This book provides a quick, easy-to-read introduction to the advanced concept of configuration management. As software developers create new applications, they must map each step for later reference... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0132408546
• ISBN13: 9780132408547
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A good handbook for the single developer

If you are thinking of buying this book, you're probably concerned with some of those the extremely negative reviews it has. I was concerned too, but something made me feel that I shouldn't take those reviews too seriously, so I ordered it. I'm glad I did so.This is a simple, straight to the point book aimed at the single developer (or small team), without any kind of theoretical discussions, just some basic explanations and simple rules of thumb.IMHO, the authors of those harsh reviews are SCM managers that were looking for more complex and advanced books. If you are a developer, you probably consider SCM as tool to make your programming life easier (and not a science or way of life) and you will probably consider this book a good introduction. If you are looking for some convoluted theoretical mental masturbations on SCM, you should certainly skip it.

Excellent book...exactly what it's subtitle states

I object to the unnecessarily harsh review being given to these authors for their excellent work.Read the subtitle: "The Latenight Developer's Handbook"In case you missed it, the authors state it again, on page xvi:"The book does not discuss theoretical aspects of configuragtion management because we think that inaccessibility has been on of the barriers for broader use of configuration management."Precisely.Years of experience? Combined, the authors have over 38 years of practice and MANAGEMENT experience.And I object to the presumption that it should be used only by small-project teams. This book is listed by the W3C for use by their developers, which is one of the largest collaboration efforts in history.If you're looking for a textbook with which to teach a class, you may still want to consider whether you want to present "Big Science" configuration management to your students right away. Don't you have an obligation to prepare them with the survival skills they need in industry, before moving on to other topics you personally find more interesting?These authors deserve better, with their multi-decade experience in bringing software products through the release cycle to the general marketplace, which are even now in day-to-day use by many organizations both large and small.Put a cover on this book; you're going to wear it out referring to it with your colleagues.