Rise & Resurrection of the American Programmer (Yourdon Press Computing Series) [Paperback]

Edward Yourdon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Yourdon Press Computing Series | Publication Date: September 26, 1997

This will be the paperback version of Rise and Resurrection of the American Programmer. It's publication follows the model for Yourdon's previous Decline and Fall of the American Programmer. It has been updated to reflect current thinking and technology, in particular as regards Java and Web Site programming environments. Published as a paperback title it's intent is to reach a far wider audience than reached by the case edition of the book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 1992, Yourdon wrote The Decline and Fall of the American Programmer, warning of impending loss of leadership by American software engineers. But a great deal has changed in three years, and Yourdon now sees a complete reversal of many of the trends he previously documented, as well as new trends such as the WWW, Java, "Good Enough" Software, and the enormous impact of Microsoft on the world of software and computing, that together signify the Resurrection of American software engineering. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

This book shows that the American programming industry has resurrected itself, since the publication of decline and fall to the point where it has demonstrated a substantial competitive advantage. Covers all the Intel technologies, the internet, worldwide web, Java, etc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (September 26, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0139561609
• ISBN-13: 978-0139561603
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,008,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly Yourdon's best book, November 14, 2000

By 

Stephane (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rise & Resurrection of the American Programmer (Yourdon Press Computing Series) (Paperback)

While Yourdon's "Death March" wasn't another "Mythical Man-Month" by any measure, "Rise" is yet in another (much lower) class. Does Yourdon want to become a true industry pundit? Ed, your style is too clear for that; and you're writing in harback format, which doesn't blissfully disappear like all these magazines.

There are many valuable insights: the section on best practices, for example. The good thing is that Yourdon doesn't just talk about them: he lists a few. "User Manual as Specification" is so simple, so obviously good... why have we done anything else ever? "Good-enough software" is valuable as well, not because you're not doing that already, but because the key is making it a fully conscious and accepted process.

And then there are some chapters that I'd rather not talk about; the one about Java, for example. The author obviously got carried away. In hindsight, this is easy to say, but still: it lacked realism, even if Microsoft hadn't tried foiling Sun's plans since day 1.

Overall: read Yourdon's other books, they're worthier of your money. And if you haven't the classics like "MMM" (Brooks), go there first.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like a good wine, Improves with age, November 15, 2005

By 

D. R. Pitts "daverpitts" (Issaquah, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rise & Resurrection of the American Programmer (Yourdon Press Computing Series) (Hardcover)

I bought this book march 2000, Read it, thought it was OK , left it on my shelf. 5 Years later I was going to discard it from my collection. opened it up and was surprised at the wealth of information in it and how closely it matches my own experience and philospohy. It is a mine of good information. Not a book to read front to back but to explore, it reads better than most web and magazine articles. If you can get one on the used market its worth 50cents of anyones money. i would say its time for a revised edition.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The future of computer science seen by a great man, October 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rise & Resurrection of the American Programmer (Yourdon Press Computing Series) (Paperback)

It gives a lot of guidelines about how to improve projects and human management (American and European point of view), developer behaviors, and so on. I found chapters concerning object technology, analysis and design very realistics, pinpointing advantages, drawbacks, and advice. Very good and clear Java's strategic position overview as programming language, web-based language ( client and server ), and so on. Unfortunately, I expected more details about Inernet technology ( e-commerce, ethic, ...). A very good book to read as a novel.