Customer Reviews

Software Configuration Management Implementation Roadmap

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are a lot of excellent books on SCM which explain the discipline and provide detailed operational advice. This one stands apart because it focuses on implementing SCM as a set of processes and procedures, and shows how to integrate it into your development environment.

Mr. Moreira leads you through every milestone of implementation from realistically assessing your needs and how to fit SCM into your development processes, to establishing an SCM infrastructure, to defining SCM tasks tailored to projects.

One of the best features of this book - and why it is invaluable to anyone who is seriously pursuing a viable SCM function - is the wealth of plans, templates, and process documents contained in the appendices and on the accompanying CD ROM. These will save a substantial amount of time to accomplish an implementation.

Other aspects of this book that I like include the chapters on SCM in general, the process- and task-oriented approaches, and the in-depth knowledge the author exhibits throughout.

If you are buying this book to guide you through an SCM implementation, or are merely exploring the level of complexity such an endeavor entails, I also recommend "Software Configuration Management Patterns: Effective Teamwork, Practical Integration" (ISBN 0201741172) because the patterns provided in that book add a layer of depth and refinement to an SCM implementation and ongoing SCM management.

I pass this book around a lot at work! It's good stuff, and one of the only books of its kind. Most SCM books talk about the SCM function and process/procedure definition and design, or a particular tool. This book covers all that and more. It also talks about the team and the roles that make-up an SCM *organization*, how to manage it and how to deliver, deploy and support a complete SCM solution (not just a process but supporting tools and environment too).

The writing style is very clear and readable. Admittedly, the price of the book is a bit steep. The accompanying CD with the forms/templates/checklist will more than make up for the cost if you are someone who is trying to lead or manage an SCM team undertaking these responsibilities.

Software Configuration Management Implementation Roadmap is one of the few SCM books that give complete information beyond processes/procedures into the organizational aspects of CM: how to lead it, deploy it and support it across the organization and the development tools/environment.

Mr. Moreira is an accomplished writer. He writes with the ease of one who knows his material. His examples are eloquent and easy to understand. The thoroughness with which he approaches his topic reflects his mastery of the subject matter. If someone wants to implement software configuration management in their development process, this is the book to have!

Another reviewer mentioned that it reads like a textbook -- and I wouldn't be surprised to see it in an MIS class on SCM. I've also read some of Mr. Moreira's other material (scmcrossroads.com should have some of his articles).

Still learning the craft myself, I'm not in a position to judge the accuracy of the information itself; I can state that if you respond well to a prescriptive (i.e. "do this, then that") style of presentation, this book will work for you. In fact, its' organization is quite similar to SCM docs I've seen in jobs present and past. So at least the author eats his own dog food, as the saying goes...

Those who prefer a "For Dummies" approach might want this as a second or third book.

Finding the path to the right process for your project and organization is tricky, and this book provides a map of the terrain that can guide you to the implementation appropriate for your project. This book will guide you through the steps that you need to take if you need to implement an SCM process for your organization at an organization, application, or project level. It includes customizable templates and examples to more quickly get you to your SCM goals.

I recommend this book to everybody who is looking for good and solid advices about how to establih SCM processes in your company.

The book gives foundational information that's hard to find regarding configuration management. It also provides good templates to give you a starting point, when nothing exists within your organization, or when so much exists, that you don't know where to start. It's an excellent resource to have in the config management department.

Software Configuration Management Implementation Roadmap, by Mario Moreira, is one of the most practical books I have come across for SCM. The author describes the steps of implementation in a very practical and purposeful manner, which is an aspect that many technical authors seem to have difficulty with. The well defined processes and templates makes this book ready for work right "out of the box".

Mr. Moreira's book is great for affirming the complexity of SCM projects. He provides lots of lists and templates for managing SCM projects. However, the readability suffers due to the format. The extensive use of grey shading on text is hard to read. It has the look and feel of a textbook. Still I found some great scoring techniques for evaluating SCM tools and other practical tips.