Agile Software Construction [Paperback]

John Hunt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1852339446 | ISBN-13: 978-1852339449 | Publication Date: September 8, 2005 | Edition: 1st Edition.

Introduces the core concepts, evaluates how successful they can be, as well as what problems may be encountered Dispels numerous myths surrounding agile development

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: "A very comprehensive guide to the most popular current agile methods. The author fully succeeds in bringing together, in a very concise style, not only the essential approaches and methods … but also the necessary tools for a more effective application of agile methods in the real software development process. … By its content, the book addresses the software development theorists and practitioners alike. By its style, it is an excellent guide for any kind of student interested in achieving skills for agile software construction." (Tudor Balanescu, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1095 (21), 2006) "Cyberneticians, systemists and software users and also developers will welcome a text that, says the publishers, focusses on the realities within which most software projects have to work. This appears to be useful addition to the literature and is branded as exhibiting the author’s ‘down-to-earth’ approach when he examines how different methods can be worked together for successful results. It is an easy-to-use book that provides ‘an accessible source of Agile techniques’ as well as useful applications." (W. R. Howard, Kybernetes, Vol. 35 (7-8), 2006)

From the Back Cover

In every software development project there is a need to ensure that the requirements of the user are met without compromising the ultimate goal of the project. However these needs frequently change, and are often erratic. Agile software is a means of putting the software first while at the same time reacting to these user requirements in a flexible and agile way.  Agile Software Construction covers the emerging methods and approaches (including extreme programming, feature-driven development and adaptive software development), that are loosely described as "Agile" and shows how to apply them effectively to software development projects. It shows how to plan, organise and develop systems using agile techniques, and highlights some of the problems that may be encountered. There are very few books available that focus on the realities within which most software projects have to work, and most concentrate on one particular method. John Hunt’s down-to-earth approach looking at how the different methods can work together, will be welcomed by a range of readers including software developers, business analysts, development managers, software architects, software engineers and product architects involved with software development, and software professionals needing an accessible source of Agile techniques and applications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (September 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852339446
• ISBN-13: 978-1852339449
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,846,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very limited look at Agile, February 15, 2007

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Agile Software Construction (Paperback)

This book ostensibly focuses on "emerging methods and approaches that are loosely described as Agile and shows how to apply them effectively...." Topics covered include Agile Modeling, Extreme Programming, Feature Driven Development, Agile Methods with RUP and PRINCE2. The author's a Brit (hence the reference to PRINCE2, pretty much unknown outside the UK). There's an overwhelming emphasis on Agile Modeling and XP and, although the books introduction states that it "....brings together a range of the most popular Agile Methods," Scrum, probably the second most popular Agile approach along with XP, receives only around one page and half a dozen cursory references.

While the author emphasizes XP heavily, there is very little attempt to examine the limitations of XP. The coverage of Agile Modeling is pretty lightweight and it's not really a "how to effectiely use Agile" book either. Overall, my assessment is this is pretty lightweight, not especially usefuland there's better books out there that focus on how to introduce and use Agile effectively. There's also better "overview" books out there with a more inclusive coverage of Agile Processes and Approaches for those who want an introduction. And for non-UK reader, the PRINCE2 coverage is pretty much irrelevant.

Not worth your time. Wasn't worth mine either but I'd already spent it so I thought the least I could do is spare others the pain. Sorry John. Better luck with the next one.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too optimistic a view of XP, October 7, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agile Software Construction (Paperback)

The book takes far too favourable a view of Extreme Programming [XP]. It ignores increasing results from industry about the brittleness of XP. You would benefit more by looking up "Extreme Programming Refactored: The Case Against XP" by Stephens and Rosenberg. It goes into gory details about actual XP attempts, including the famous initial one at Chrysler.

Which is not to say that Hunt's book is entirely wrong. Parts of it, like the need for unit testing, are not bad at all. It should be adopted in many projects. And the waterfall approach does have severe problems. But you can buy into agile programming without necessarily going to the extreme of XP.