Peer Reviews in Software: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

~ Karl E. Wiegers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Peer review works: it leads to better software. But implementing peer review can be challenging -- for technical, political, social, cultural, and psychological reasons. In this book, best-selling software engineering author Karl Wiegers presents succinct, easy-to-use techniques for formal and informal software peer review, helping project managers and developers choose the right approach and implement it successfully. Wiegers begins by discussing the cultural and social aspects of peer review, and reviewing several formal and informal approaches: their implications, their challenges, and the opportunities they present for quality improvement. The heart of the book is an in-depth look at the "nuts and bolts" of inspection, including the roles of inspectors, planning, examining work products, conducting code review meetings; improving the inspection process, and achieving closure. Wiegers presents a full chapter on metrics, and then addresses the process and political challenges associated with implementing successful software review programs. The book concludes with solutions to special review challenges, including large work products and software created by distributed development teams. For all developers, project managers, business analysts, quality engineers, testers, process improvement leaders, and documentation specialists.

From the Back Cover

"I will tell my friends and other folks in quality assurance and process management roles to RUN (don't walk) and buy Peer Reviews in Software. In fact, my organization could use this book RIGHT NOW." —Brad Appleton

Karl's writing is nicely motivational, reasonably detailed, and covers the range of issues that are important."—Mark Paulk

There is nothing wrong with making mistakes; it is part of what makes us human. Catching the errors early, however, before they become difficult to find and expensive to correct, is very important. A peer review program is a vital component of any quality software development effort, yet too few software professionals have had the experience or training necessary to implement peer reviews successfully.

Concise, readable, and pragmatic, Peer Reviews in Software walks you through the peer review process and gives you the specific methods and techniques you need to help ensure a quality software release. Comprehensively covering both formal and informal processes, the book describes various peer review methods and offers advice on their appropriate use under a variety of circumstances.

This book focuses on—but is not limited to—the technique of inspection. This is the most formal, rigorous, and effective type of peer review. The various stages of inspection—including planning, individual preparation, conducting inspection meetings, and follow-up—are discussed in detail. In addition, Peer Reviews in Software explores the cultural and social nuances involved in critiquing the work of others, and reveals

Specific topics include:

• Overcoming resistance to reviews
• Inspection teams and roles
• Inspection process stages
• Scheduling inspection events
• Analyzing inspection data
• Peer review training
• Critical success factors and pitfalls
• Relating peer reviews to process improvement models

Karl Wiegers closes with a look at special review challenges, including peer review of large work products and geographically dispersed development teams. He provides many practical resources to help you jump-start your review program, enhance communications on your projects, and ultimately ship high-quality software on schedule.

0201734850B10052001

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (November 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201734850
• ISBN-13: 978-0201734850
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #369,172 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Persuasive, practical, January 26, 2002

By	Ross Collard (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

I have attempted over the years to get various organizations to buy into peer reviews. We have lots of evidence why these reviews are highly worthwhile, but their implementation has not been anything to write home about. There's always many reasons why organizations don't buy in or give peer reviews half-hearted support.

In my opinion, this book is an important contribution to the field. I'm sufficiently impressed that I've passed copies of the book to a few busy software development managers, software engineers and business managers so far. They've taken the time to look at it, and they find the book talks to them -- it is clear, addresses their issues, offers practical solutions which they may not have considered before, and is persuasive. I believe the book will have a postive influence in their organizations.

I hope to see copies in lots more people's bookshelves.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best In Depth Peer Review Textbook, January 30, 2002

By	Tom Gilb (Kolbotn, Norway) - See all my reviews

Excellent up to date survey of the literature, excellent survey of the many methods and analysis of their differences. A rich insight into the area of peer reviews in general, including Inspections and their variations. Practical for the industrial user. Highly recommended.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for any software development team, March 22, 2002

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Every developer I have known has experienced the phenomena of spending an inordinate amount of time searching for a bug only to have a colleague look at the code and find it almost immediately. Study after study has indicated that the worst review process for software is self-criticism and the best is to have other coders take a good look at it. Therefore, it is logical that a formal process for developers reviewing each others code be implemented. The problem is that the former is informal, making it "off the books" and not subject to review by decision makers. Being human, developers react differently when their livelihood is potentially at stake, which can cause problems and prevent adequate reviews of the code.
Creating a stable, scalable and structured peer review system is not something that can be done by fiat or in a short time. It requires clear managerial direction that inspires confidence and builds a sense of security for both the evaluator and evaluated. Creating such an environment is the key and that is the main point of value in this book.
Wiegers lays out in great detail how to create a culture where all involved are peers in the real sense. It is absolutely necessary that everyone in the review process understand that creating quality software is the only thing that matters. Therefore, posturing, ego tripping, ego inflating, ego protection and all related activities must be suppressed. These are the most difficult tasks for professional humans to engage in, and it requires a combination of carrying a big stick to move the process as well as a soft pillow for the necessary falls from perfection. Wiegers shows you how to do this with the skill of a counselor.
In my reading of the trade press, the recent rise in the concern for computer security has led to a great deal of coverage about errors in software. Responding to this pressure, Bill Gates has sent out a public memo noting that quality is now the number one priority at Microsoft. The best way to achieve this quality is to have an effective peer review process and in this book you can learn how to do that. In the new world order of software, your very survival may be at stake, so your plan of action should include a rendezvous with this book.