Peer review works: it leads to better software. But implementing peer review can be challenging -- for technical, political, social, cultural, and psychological reasons. In this book, best-selling software engineering author Karl Wiegers presents succinct, easy-to-use techniques for formal and informal software peer review, helping project managers and developers choose the right approach and implement it successfully. Wiegers begins by discussing the cultural and social aspects of peer review, and reviewing several formal and informal approaches: their implications, their challenges, and the opportunities they present for quality improvement. The heart of the book is an in-depth look at the "nuts and bolts" of inspection, including the roles of inspectors, planning, examining work products, conducting code review meetings; improving the inspection process, and achieving closure. Wiegers presents a full chapter on metrics, and then addresses the process and political challenges associated with implementing successful software review programs. The book concludes with solutions to special review challenges, including large work products and software created by distributed development teams. For all developers, project managers, business analysts, quality engineers, testers, process improvement leaders, and documentation specialists.
Karl Wiegers is Principal Consultant with Process Impact (www.processimpact.com) in Portland, Oregon. He has provided training and consulting services worldwide on many aspects of software development, management and process improvement. Karl holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois, which he believes provides the perfect background for anyone in IT. Prior to starting Process Impact in 1997, he spent 18 years at Eastman Kodak Company as a photographic research scientist, software developer, software manager, and software quality and process improvement specialist.
Karl's most recent book is a memoir of life lessons called "Pearls from Sand: How Small Encounters Lead to Powerful Lessons." Visit www.PearlsFromSand.com to get more information, follow the blog, and submit your own pearls of wisdom to share with the world.
Karl's professional goal is to create books, articles, training materials, templates, and other materials that can help improve the effectiveness of any individual or organization that develops software. You can download many of these items at www.processimpact.com/goodies.shtml. He is the author of five books and more than 170 articles on many aspects of software, chemistry, and military history. His training seminars are available as eLearning courses at www.processimpact.com/elearning.shtml.
When not at the keyboard, Karl enjoys reading military history, cooking, tasting (okay, drinking) wine, playing guitar, and writing and recording music. Check out his recipes at www.processimpact.com/recipes.shtml and his songs (if you dare) at www.karlwiegers.com/songs.
