Agile Software Development, Principles, Patterns, and Practices (Alan Apt Series) (Hardcover)

by Robert C. Martin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Written by a software developer for software developers, this book is a unique collection of the latest software development methods. The author includes OOD, UML, Design Patterns, Agile and XP methods with a detailed description of a complete software design for reusable programs in C++ and Java. Using a practical, problem-solving approach, it shows how to develop an object-oriented application--from the early stages of analysis, through the low-level design and into the implementation. Walks readers through the designer's thoughts -- showing the errors, blind alleys, and creative insights that occur throughout the software design process. The book covers: Statics and Dynamics; Principles of Class Design; Complexity Management; Principles of Package Design; Analysis and Design; Patterns and Paradigm Crossings. Explains the principles of OOD, one by one, and then demonstrates them with numerous examples, completely worked-through designs, and case studies. Covers traps, pitfalls, and work arounds in the application of C++ and OOD and then shows how Agile methods can be used. Discusses the methods for designing and developing big software in detail.Features a three-chapter, in-depth, single case study of a building security system. For Software Engineers, Programmers, and Analysts who want to understand how to design object oriented software with state of the art methods.

From the Back Cover

Best selling author and world-renowned software development expert Robert C. Martin shows how to solve the most challenging problems facing software developers, project managers, and software project leaders today.

This comprehensive, pragmatic tutorial on Agile Development and eXtreme programming, written by one of the founding father of Agile Development:

• Teaches software developers and project managers how to get projects done on time, and on budget using the power of Agile Development.
• Uses real-world case studies to show how to of plan, test, refactor, and pair program using eXtreme programming.
• Contains a wealth of reusable C++ and Java code.
• Focuses on solving customer oriented systems problems using UML and Design Patterns.

Robert C. Martin is President of Object Mentor Inc. Martin and his team of software consultants use Object-Oriented Design, Patterns, UML, Agile Methodologies, and eXtreme Programming with worldwide clients. He is the author of the best-selling book Designing Object-Oriented C++ Applications Using the Booch Method (Prentice Hall, 1995), Chief Editor of, Pattern Languages of Program Design 3 (Addison Wesley, 1997), Editor of, More C++ Gems (Cambridge, 1999), and co-author of XP in Practice, with James Newkirk (Addison-Wesley, 2001). He was Editor in Chief of the C++ Report from 1996 to 1999. He is a featured speaker at international conferences and trade shows.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 529 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (October 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135974445
• ISBN-13: 978-0135974445
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,322 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If I Only Bought Two OOD Books, This Would be One of Them, April 1, 2003

By	David C. Veeneman (Lincolnshire, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't think I've given another design/programming book 5 stars before. This book deserves it-- it could easily replace a half dozen books on my shelf, and it probably will.

Martin focuses on the why's and the wherefores of current OOD methodologies. He doesn't try to sell Agile Processes in this book. Instead, he explains a number of current practices that might be loosely grouped under the 'Agile' name. He anchors his discussion in a set of principles that drive the design process. Then he shows how software patterns can be used to put these principles into practice.

Patterns are explained and demonstrated in the context of three case studies. The case studies (a payroll system, a weather monitoring system, and an exam testing system) have the feel of day-to-day problems. One of my chief complaints with other books has been the use of esoteric case studies-- unless I work for Microsoft, I'm not likely to write a word processor anytime soon. Okay, so maybe I won't write a weather station either, but it comes a lot closer to what I will do!

The patterns discussion in this book is down-to-earth and easily understood. I have struggled over the 'Gang of Four' book ('Gamma et Al, 'Design Patterns') for well over a year. Bob Martin's book has cut through a lot of the clutter and confusion. It has been a great help to me in understanding why, where, and when to use different patters. And the explanation of UML in the book's appendices is one of the best I have seen. I can't think of a better way to learn UML than to sit down with these Appendices and Martin Fowler's 'UML Distilled'.

This is one of the two books I would recommend to an OOD newbie. The other would be 'Object Design' by Rebecca Wirfs Brock and Alan McKean. These books provide a solid grounding in object-oriented design, while requiring a very reasonable expenditure of time and effort.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, specifc, applicable, April 29, 2004

By	wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

The bulk of this book describes OO design principles. They're presented in a readable, useful, and well-organized way. Often they just clarify and put a name to something you've probably been doing anyway. The standard Dependency Inversion Principle is there, for one. (I'm glad to see that other people have trouble with the name. By today's reckoning, there's nothing inverted about it, but the name dates back to less enlightened times.) Others, like the Interface Segregation Principle, are less well known but reinforce lots of other good practices, such as data hiding and prevention of "interface leakage".

The "Agile" section is blessedly short, and doesn't much contaminate the otherwise good presentation elsewhere in the book. There's a lot of good to be extracted from the agility movement, but there's a lot of rabid dogmatism too. Martin managed to keep it well under control. He presented the Manifesto (ugh) early on, but that was the worst of it.

A few points marred the book, but only slightly, The drawings came across as "cute" - unprofessional and tangential to the topics at hand. Semi-fictional conversations in books like this always seem fatuous to me, and Ch.6 was no exception. The technical content managed to withstand this presentation anyway.

This book has lots of good ideas. It relates those ideas well to common and useful design patterns. A few aspects of the book tried to be funny, but came across as more annoying than anything else. That was only a few, though - the meaningful content of the book came through despite those flaws.

I recommend this book to any serious student or practitioner of OO design and implementation. I really mean "any," since even project-scarred veterans are likely to see some of their hard won knowledge set into clear text and into the context of other ideas.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Software Engineers Companion, January 21, 2003

By	Ingo Lundberg (Sweden) - See all my reviews

This book is packed with software engineering practices. I expect to read it over and over again. I've been reading Robert's stuff ever since his book on C++/Booch. He has willingly shared his thoughts on [his website] and now a lot of it is gathered together in this book.

Principles. These principles are the foundation upon each pattern should rest, the reference frame for good software engineering.

Patterns. This is not just another GoF section. The patterns are discussed, in context, and related in a way that nicely complements GoF. Patterns not found in GoF are also presented.

Practices. I've been practicing light weight methods long before the boost of Agile methods happened (Fowler, Martin). The test first design is a very exiting approach to design, leaving you with something much more valuable than mere diagrams - unit tests.

The reason I like reading Robert's work is that one can tell he's a programmer (he's got code up to his elbows). I'm sure there is software engineers matching him out there but only a few that match his teaching skills and experience. Have you ever felt discouraged by books full of (UML) diagrams pretending that's all there is to software development? You won't feel that way reading this book. This is the revival of source code (complemented with conceptual diagrams), so be prepared to read some too. Isn't it great?