I. M. Wright's Hard Code (Best Practices) (Paperback)

by Eric Brechner (Author)
Key Phrases: project mismanagement, source depot, journey developers, Hard Code, Eric Aside, Personal Bug Fixing (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Get an inside look at how one of Microsoft's Engineering Excellence directors drives discussions about coding best practices. The popular column, I. M. Wright's "Hard Code," was written by Eric Brechner's alter-ego to help stimulate discussion among development engineers at Microsoft--a proven-effective idea. Deliberately provocative, ideas have been debated and pondered by thousands within Microsoft and have increasingly drawn attention from others in the industry. With this book, these essays are now available to any developer. They are thematically arranged, each helping to spark the imagination, stimulate discussion, and promote debate about software development tasks and processes. They encourage developers to reexamine coding, testing, and software-development project-management practices--and gain insight into their own processes to help drive excellence in large, distributed business groups.

From the Publisher
Key Book Benefits:

Provides insights into how Microsoft drives excellence in large, distributed, and diverse business groups

Features a foreword by Mike Zintel, Director of Development at Microsoft

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (September 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735624356
• ISBN-13: 978-0735624351
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,177 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Unofficial Microsoft Software Development Playbook, December 30, 2007

By	.NET Code Monkey - See all my reviews

"Hard Code" is a brilliant read for any software developer, architect, manager, etc. It is a candid interpretation of the politics inside Microsoft and the relationships across various roles in the development process.

This might sound a little boring, but no--this guy goes for the throat. In understanding that everyone has a specific job to do--and their objectives often oppose those of everyone else--he accurately and bluntly exposes common points of conflict. More importantly, he gives hard-won, actionable advice on how to cut through all that crap and put everyone on the same page.

For managers and architects, this book [namely chapter 1: "Project Mismanagement"] would be a great supplement to two books of Julie Bick's that also offer unique insight: All I Really Need to Know In Business I Learned at Microsoft and The Microsoft Edge.

Another interesting point in this book was the article, "Google: Serious threat or poor spelling?" Here he actually points out the flaws with Google's business strategy and gives tips on how they [or any company] could overcome their weaknesses to become a true competitor to Microsoft.

It's not like he gives up Windows source code here, but don't be surprised if you get a bit anxious reading it...just waiting for FBI agents to break down your door for accessing coveted insider trade secrets.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Every Page, March 9, 2008

By	Joao Cortez (Porto, Portugal) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This wonderful book by Eric Brechner analyzes from the inside of Microsoft the dynamics of Software Development, Organization, Project & People Management, Software Design, Development & Quality. To every harsh criticism, he offers some very interesting and yet simple advice. That doesn't mean that Eric is always "WRight", but he certainly has a good point, and it will make you think and see things in a different light. I strongly recommend it to anybody in a IT profession, specially to managers!