Software Configuration Management Handbook, Second Edition [Hardcover]

Alexis Leon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1580538827 | ISBN-13: 978-1580538824 | Publication Date: December 30, 2004 | Edition: 2

This completely revised edition of an Artech House bestseller goes far beyond other software configuration management (SCM) books as the only complete guide that integrates SCM principles, advanced topics, and implementation procedures in one accessible resource. The second edition has been greatly expanded with new chapters on documentation control, product data management, SCM standards and software process improvement models like CMM, CMMI, BOOTSTRAP, ISO SPICE, and Trillium.

Software Configuration Management Handbook, Second Edition maps the integration of SCM activities within the software development life cycle. It explores the latest advances in SCM tools, SCM organization, operation and maintenance of the SCM system, and the level of automation needed. Moreover, you find detailed guidance on determining and implementing the SCM tools and standards that best fit their specific needs. This total SCM resource is supported by numerous illustrations and updated lists of SCM vendors and SCM Internet resources.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alexis Leon is the managing director of L and L Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. He has extensive consulting experience in the areas of software product design, process improvement, project management, software configuration management, and software quality assurance. He received his masterÂ’s degree (M.Tech) in industrial engineering from Kerala University, Kerala, India. He is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He has written more than 35 books on various computer, IT and management topics.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 383 pages
• Publisher: Artech Print on Demand; 2 edition (December 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580538827
• ISBN-13: 978-1580538824
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,239,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on SCM, April 18, 2005

By 

G. Thomas "reubent" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Software Configuration Management Handbook, Second Edition (Hardcover)

I am the CEO of a software company and even though I knew the importance of good SCM practices, as a small company, we procrastinated on actually implementing anything formal. Anyway, when the fires got to a point, we decided it was time we took the medicine to get serious about SCM and I turned to Mr. Leon's book for help. I also sifted through a bunch of other books on the topic at libraries and bookstores and was immediately overwhelmed by the seeming complexity and all the jargon. The simple language, the concise explanations and the organization of content in Mr. Leon's book served as almost a how-to-manual for me as we went about implementing SCM concepts in our organization. I bought a couple of copies of the new edition for my two EPMs and they have been unanimous in their praise of this book as well. If you're looking to bring some order into your software development world through SCM, I would highly recommend you start with this book.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, comprehensive and 'readable' book on SCM, January 27, 2005

By 

Maria Sumi "Maria" (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Software Configuration Management Handbook, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This book is the second edition A Guide to Software Configuration Management (ISBN: 1580530729). The change in name is a bit confusing, but the author explains why the name was changed--due to the change in scope, magnitude and coverage of the book.

Apart from the changed title, the most endearing features of the first edition--simple language, clear explanation of the fundamentals and lucid treatment of advanced topics--are still there. The first edition was a book that would get you as quickly up-to-speed on the basics and key issues. The second edition builds on the first edition. The language and writing style is still simple and easy to read. The fundamental concepts and the basic SCM functions are explained in clear and jargon free language. All the good aspects of the first edition are retained. But the chapters are revised, updated and enlarged to include the latest developments and to give a more thorough, comprehensive and in-depth coverage.

The chapter on SCM standards is an excellent primer on the various military and commercial SCM standards. The strengths and weaknesses of each standard is explained. The comparison of four representative standards- EIA-649, IEEE Std-828, ISO 10007 and MIL-STD-973-is very useful and informative. The chapter "Software Process Improvement Models and SCM" gives an overview of various SPI models like CMM, CMMI, ISO SPICE, BOOTSTRAP, Trillium, etc. and explains the role of SCM in process improvement with the help of the SPI models. The chapters on SCM plans, SCM organization SCM tools, SCM implementation, SCM operation and maintenance, SCM in special circumstances give sound and practical advice on the various aspects of SCM from SCM system design, to implementation, operation and maintenance.

In addition to providing a sound foundation on the SCM fundamentals, the book is an easy-to-digest reference to various practical aspects of SCM that are not found in most books and manuals. It is a virtual toolbox of information that can be readily put to use by the SCM practitioners.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview for a complete SCM newbie, June 9, 2008

By 

S. Williams (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Software Configuration Management Handbook, Second Edition (Hardcover)

I picked up this book because we recently started a project where management uses the term "SCM" a lot, and I had no real idea of what that means. This book provides a great overview of the ideas and genesis of SCM, and why it is useful. It also provided lots of detail and examples about the ideas presented to really cement them in my mind, and translate them to activities that we currently do. I can have an intelligent, scientific conversation about SCM now, which is exactly what I was looking for. This book is really excellent.