Software Engineering Classics: Software Project Survival Guide/ Debugging the Development Process/ Dynamics of Software Development (Programming/General)

Technical books are often preachy. 'This is the ONLY way to this. You've been doing this wrong ALL your life.' We've all read one of those. These three books are like gentle friends discussing what one might need/want to do to survive successfully through a software project. My favorite book out of the trio is the Survival Guide. It has all sorts of checklists I have been able to modify for use in my projects. Additional support/tools is/are offered through the author's website. I like the 'contingency planning' aspect that this book offers, and a lot of others miss. A great read overall. I didn't sleep at all through this one. ;)

Anyone aspiring to be (or in the current position of) project lead or project manager should get this set. These help you understand, accept, and shape to your advantage many of the "soft", human, non-technical factors in software development.Also - be sure and get "Code Complete" - it is a comprehensive collection (and interpretation) of many of the great ideas from notable gurus such as Yourdon/DeMarco/Constantine, Kernigan & Richie, Dijkstra, Meyer, etc. etc. (plz excuse the spelling errors!) Every programmer needs a copy of "Code Complete" and the companion, "Writing Solid Code". Software Standards and QA groups should use these texts as references and standards.

I have read all three of Steve's books, and they ALL are worth ten times their price! If you are SERIOUS about making software a career, buy this set!