Software Best Practices

I would like to offer a suggestion. I agree wholeheartedly that self-education is key to long-term success in software engineering because if you don't read, some young punk is going to come along and start eating your lunch. The books on the Construx PDP ladder form an excellent self-study program and I have been checking some of them off for months now. But I want more!

What does the community here think about the "Construx Engineering Book Club"? Personally, I would love to have some conversations with (and hopefully led by) Constux engineers about books on and off the PDP reading list.

In fact, I have a suggestion for the first book, though other ideas are welcome. I've been reading "Dynamics of Software Development" by Jim and Michele McCarthy.

Any takers?

Kevin
 

I would be game. Having met Jim McCarthy, it would be interesting reading one of his books. If we can find one more taker, I will put an announcement on the main page.

I'd be interested in taking part

Well, it appears to be only three of us. Shall we pick a book and start and see if folks will join us?

 I'd be interested as well.

Ok how about either of these?

• Continuous Integration: Improving Software Quality and Reducing Risk - Martin Fowler
• Beautiful Code (Theory in Practice) - A Oram

I've had good luck with Martin Fowler's books. But I also find 'beautiful code' a very appealing topic. I could go either way.

 I vote for "Beautiful Code". *****Change of heart. I'm sitting on Borders looking over this one and it is probably more a CS book than a software engineering one. So, I to back to my original suggestion of Dynamics of Softeare Development.

 How should this work? My initial thought (which I still like) is that the discussion be moderated by Earl. For future books, I think alternation would be the way to go. If we get through five books before entropy sets in, I will consider this a success.

 Kevin

I would be happy to moderate. So, we are moving away from "Beautiful Code" and toward "Dynamics of Software Development"?

 Either. I've ordered all three, the two I suggested and Dynamics of Software Development. Amazon are usually pretty prompt so as soon as the post strike is over in the UK I can start with whatever we decide on.

I'm still voting for 'Beautiful Code', but I will go with whatever the Jedi chooses. 

You want me to choose? Gutsy call. I am currently in Helsinki and would like to look at the books (I am sure we have them in the Construx library). The Amazon chapter listing suggests that Beautiful Code would work well with our format (each month a different subject). I have met Jim McCarthy and reading his book would probably have a higher "fun" factor. Can I buy a week to make a call?

 Why don't we just go with Beautiful Code? I withdraw my objection. The defense rests. Something like that.

 I just joined the forums but count me in.  I am about to have my 2nd child so not sure if that will give me more time to read (as I will be home bound for the next few months) or less (cause... 2 kids, what was I thinking!?!?)

Has the Jedi been able to return to his library and make a call? 

Still in Helsinki but the group has made the call: Beutiful Code, here we come! How about the first chapter in about two weeks (give us all time to get our books and do a little reading?

If you all agree, then I will start a new thread on the book.

The chapters in Beautilful Code are actually very short and there are 33 of them so I'd suggest perhaps the first two or three at least!

1. A Regular Expression Matcher
2. Subversion's Delta Editor: Interface as Onthology
3. The Most Beautifil Code I Never Wrote 

OK, lets read the first three chapters and start posting next week here

(I created a new group under Construction for the book discussion).