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Software Engineering

Code Complete

by Steve McConnell
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Overview

Widely considered one of the best practical guides to programming, Steve McConnell’s original CODE COMPLETE has been helping developers write better software for more than a decade. Now this classic book has been fully updated and revised with leading-edge practices—and hundreds of new code samples—illustrating the art and science of software construction. Capturing the body of knowledge available from research, academia, and everyday commercial practice, McConnell synthesizes the most effective techniques and must-know principles into clear, pragmatic guidance. No matter what your experience level, development environment, or project size, this book will inform and stimulate your thinking—and help you build the highest quality code.

Discover the timeless techniques and strategies that help you:

  • Design for minimum complexity and maximum creativity
  • Reap the benefits of collaborative development
  • Apply defensive programming techniques to reduce and flush out errors
  • Exploit opportunities to refactor—or evolve—code, and do it safely
  • Use construction practices that are right-weight for your project
  • Debug problems quickly and effectively
  • Resolve critical construction issues early and correctly
  • Build quality into the beginning, middle, and end of your project


Excellent exposition of the software development process, specifically the author examines the software construction process itself, based on common commercial practices with a strong emphasis on quality, workflow and scheduling improvements. This practical guide presents effective software development practices for problem definition, requirement analysis, implementation planning, design, construction and integration. Indeed the practical aspects of the entire development cycle are analyzed and explained including testing, maintenance and enhancement. Focuses on data control, quality improvement and craftsmanship, that elusive state that distinguishes professional competence from hacking. Source code is in C and Pascal, replete with "key point" notes and more importantly with "coding horror" analysis. Emphasizes code optimization, testing and troubleshooting for constant quality improvement.

Synopsis

This practical handbook of software construction is fully updated and revised with leading-edge practices and hundreds of new code samples, illustrating the art and science of constructing software.

Booknews

The concepts discussed in this encyclopedic treatment are applicable to any procedural language in any computing environment. The presentation, intended to help developers take strategic action rather than fight the same battles again and again, includes some 500 examples of code (good and bad), along with checklists for assessment of architecture, design approach, and module and routine quality. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About the Author, Steve McConnell


Steve McConnell is Chief Software Engineer at Construx Software Builders where he divides his time between leading custom software projects, consulting on other companies' software projects, and writing books and articles. He is the author of Code Complete (1993) and Rapid Development (1996), both winners of Software Development magazine's Jolt award for outstanding software development books of their respective years. His most recent book is Software Project Survival Guide. McConnell has also written numerous technical articles and edits IEEE Software magazine's "Best Practices" column. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Editorials

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
For ten years, Steve McConnell’s Code Complete has inspired programmers to get better at their profession and has given them powerful insights for doing so. Now, he’s thoroughly overhauled Code Complete to reflect all that’s happened since 1994. Web programming. Agile and collaborative methods. Patterns. Refactoring.

There are some code examples here -- now in C#, VB.NET, and Java. (And object-oriented techniques are now woven throughout.) But the heart of the book is still how to think more clearly at every level.

How much planning is enough for your project? How do you manage complexity? Choose the right language for the task? Write higher-quality code? Organize it effectively? Cope with the realities of integration? Few books deal well with questions like these. Code Complete, Second Edition does, and it’s indispensable. Bill Camarda

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2003 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition.

Booknews

The concepts discussed in this encyclopedic treatment are applicable to any procedural language in any computing environment. The presentation, intended to help developers take strategic action rather than fight the same battles again and again, includes some 500 examples of code (good and bad), along with checklists for assessment of architecture, design approach, and module and routine quality. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Book Details

Published
June 1, 2004
Publisher
Microsoft Press
Pages
960
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780735619678

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