Computer Science Books

This book is not pretentious about what it tries to do. It has no grandiose notions of explaining theories behind architecture, capturing history of the field, how to select architecture to enhance certain architectural qualities, trade offs to consider or patterns to choose from.

It is simply a guide on what architectural views are more relevant than others when trying to build large scale systems, what the view points guiding the generation of those views are, how to use these views effectively when guiding software projects. This it does admirably well, to the point.

It does point to other reference material of relevance for other topics on architecture that is useful for deeper knowledge.

Apart from avoiding pitfalls, this is a good book to help train senior developers and leads who want to move to architect roles. Also helps in developing shared vision on architectural deliverables to be generated among stakeholders.

4 Stars since it is rather pricey.

An excellent reference on what UML diagrams to use to capture the achitecture of a large software project. And this isn't based on the authors' ivory-tower opinions, but on their actual experience of using these diagrams in the real world. We have since used their approach to successfully capture (and thereby communicate to others) the architecture of software projects at our company.

The writing style is a bit dry (there are no humorous anecdotes), but this is more than made up for by being concise.

The book also includes an excellent primer of the various roles a software architect (and other software managers) should take within a large project.

This book presents a very practical guide to designing and developing large-scale software systems. I've been involved in a number of large-scale projects and this is the first book I've found that includes many of the things you usually find out the hard way. Things like how to effectively communicate the design to the team, how to manage iterations and how to document designs and changes to the design.

Since the topic is large-scale systems, the book focuses more on techniques than on specific examples, but it more than makes up for that by providing practical tips and recommended reading references. If you are leading a software development team or plan to, this book will help you on a very practical level.

[Review duplicated from Amazon.co.uk]

Jeff Garland and Richard Anthony have written a very practical and accessible explanation of the process of designing and describing the software architecture for a large information system. All of the major architectural structures are covered and the depth of experience of the authors is evident from the solid, practical advice given throughout. There is also a huge amount of practical advice as to how architectural structures can be described using UML, which is particularly valuable.

The only significant criticism I've have is that they don't talk about the quality properties of the architecture all that explicitly. The focus in most of the book is about capturing architectural structures rather than talking about the required architectural qualities that led to the structures being selected. The reader is left to discern this for themselves.

This said though, I'd still recommend the book to any practicing information systems architect.

Few books offer so many practical rewards for lawyers (indeed for anyone who uses Acrobat). Cleanly written and full of screenshots to aid you, this is a one stop shop for "everything Acrobat" a lawyer could possibly want to know. David Masters is renowned as a lawyer/expert who speaks nationwide about the use of Adobe Acrobat in law firms. If you get the chance to hear him speak, you'll thoroughly enjoy him in person, but the book is a reference tool that you'll go back to time and again. Most lawyers who read this book are shocked by the many things that Acrobat can do - and they practice better, more efficiently and more securely as a result. This book should be in every lawyer's library.

More and more courts are allowing, if not requiring, that documents of all type be presented in electronic format either in addition to or in some cases instead of on paper. There are unquestionably a lot of lawyers who will assign the task of producing the electronic document to a secretary. But this is kind of like having a lawyer these days who can't use a PC - there probably are some, but they are getting fewer and fewer.

This slim document, now in its second edition is aimed to enable lawyers (or their secretaries) to produce the .pdf documents desired by the court. It does not go into all the details of what Adobe Acrobat can do, that would take a thousand pages or so. It is not a book intended for the teckie who lives, breathes, and eats computers. It tells the lawyer what he needs to know to meet the courts requirements. At this it does a great job.

This book really walked me through using Acrobat Professional.

I'm know computer wizard, and this book has been really useful to me.

I really needed this book! It focuses on the functions of Adobe Acrobat 6 that lawyers need to use. Explanations are clear, illustrations are helpful.

These are skills that a lawyer could choose to "leave to the support staff." The lawyers who do that are also the ones who can be productive and profitable practitioners in the 21st Century without touching a computer keyboard. (I assume there are a few of them somewhere.)

The rest of us need to know how to create, manipulate and use documents in the PDF format. This book tells us how. Those who are experienced Acrobat users may not need it, but I am not and this book really gets right down to the things I need to know to use Acrobat in my work.

As an editor of a writing ezine, I tend to surf the net checking out other writing ezines out of curiosity, more than anything else. I am in awe of all the writing ezines out there in cyberland, but one particular website, Word Thunder, impressed me over the other the others. I had come to know the editor, Sarah Mankowski, through an online writing group and had emailed her a few times asking her questions and generally admiring what she has done for writers. It wasn't until I read her book, LIBERATION, when I found out this woman who had managed to run one of the best writing ezines around, plus find time to answer the questions from this particular writing group and helping so many people, is legally blind.

LIBERATIONS, her latest book, is one of Sarah's finest achievements. Baring her heart and soul of what it was like in the early years of the internet, she lets us travel back to the time when she was a struggling writer and all the obstacles which could have been in her way if not for the internet.

She explores her life as a writer, the ups and downs, with such candidness, not only can you relate as a writer but as someone who has overcome the odds and become "liberated" through the wonderful access of computers.

A truly entertaining read and one in which will stay with me. I fully recommend this book!

Sarah writes a candid biography which describes her life and obsticles she overcomes despite being legally blind. She uses computer and internet technology to expand her writing career. While this book focuses on writing it is an inspiration for anyone dealing with disability whether personally or in one's profession.

Sarah was born legally blind. She was packed off to the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind at age six. Alone and lonely she retreated into a world of imagination. A writer was born.

The "Liberation" in Liberation One Writer's Adventures and Misadventures on the Digital Playground refers to the freedom that Sarah has found through computers and the Internet. Sarah has never been timid about trying new technologies and after being introduced to the Internet she dove in with gusto, learning all she could about web design and digital publishing. The book can be summed up in the following passage.

"And so, I began to understand the true greatness of the Internet. Sure, this amazing network has allowed men and women to make millions. Perhaps, even more importantly, it has allowed obscure, creative minds to speak to the world. "

Liberation will be a "must read" for all writers that use the Internet. But everybody who would like a new perspective on computer technologists and networking should read this book.

As Sarah states in her introduction, this book is not a how-to book. This book is not a lot of
things. One thing that it is. It is a life. Sarah also says it's not an autobiography. And it's not. It's
a story. It's a story of a life. Sarah Mankowski's life and how she has developed various aspects
of her life to have what she now has.

What does she now have? A marriage, a son, a writing livelihood and a genuine interest and
commentary on things she observes as she lives her life. And something that they all have in
common, is that she loves them all. She loves it all.

This is a story about a woman who beat the odds. So what? There are many stories about people
who beat the odds. This is more than an inspirational story. It contains depth and conviction of
one person who is making a difference in many lives. But she chose to make a difference in her
own life first.

Sarah's writing style in this particular book is conversational, at least that's how I felt as I was

reading it. I felt like we were having a conversation, and she was answering questions before I
could ask them. In other words, she did very well at leading me down the garden path of her
story. I wanted to read more each day just to find out what Sarah was up to and how she did what
she did. And then what would I do? I'd tell others about Sarah and her life, and what she had
done and continues to do.

I will miss reading about Sarah each day. I felt like she was here with me for awhile, but now
she's gone. I'll miss her.

If I were to be asked would I recommend this book, the answer is most certainly yes, and I
already have, even before I finished it. It will help anyone along their way who may be at a
crossroads. It will help those who have made it past the crossroads, and want to join Sarah and
feel like you have a comrade in life who understands. You know the ones, the ones you don't
have to explain anything to, because you know, that they know. Sarah knows.

She is walking in your shoes as you read this story of her life. That's how good she is at this that
she has done.

Thank You, Sarah Mankowski!

Susan James

Managing Expectations is a book for everyone who deals with customers or other people with expectations. Using a customer service model, Ms. Karten describes the ways in which people successfully and unsuccessfully manage what people expect. She advises on how to create better working relationships by fostering clearer understandings of the circumstances and limitations which exist in any situation.

Failure to manage expectations often has catestrophic consequences to projects and relationships. Those who want to build long-term relationships and successful projects will consider the cautions and advice presented here.

Ms. Karten uses gentle humor and warmth to tell us the lessons that we need in order to better communicate what we know to our clients.

People who are clients can also use this book to better understand the process of working collaboratively.

It's a fine book for evoking new insights and inspiring better communication.

The key message of this book is that you must listen carefully to your customers and co-workers, hearing every word, but also the broad message. Many of the primary problems in the business-customer relationship are due to different definitions of commonly understood words, such as "regular", "extended", "timely" and even "month." Whole phrases are subject to different interpretations, and the author recites an instance from a trip to her physician. After examination, the physician pronounced her condition as "unremarkable." At first she was angry, and yet having the sense to think before making a fist, she realized that was the doctor's way of saying she was fine.
Which also points out what is the most critical condition for success dealing with anyone, whether they are in the group described by the book title or not. As e-mail use has shown us, it is almost impossible to avoid saying something that can be taken in an offensive manner. Business is about getting things done, and you don't complete complex tasks by making small talk about the weather. You do things by communicating the current situation as it is, even if it is not what the receiver wants to hear and it is necessary to take people to task. Therefore, your best policy is to avoid getting angry quickly, developing a thick skin and concentrating on completing the tasks at hand.
Naomi Karten puts forward advice that is simply not heard often enough. Forget about all of the sensitivity nonsense and concentrate on forms of communication that can be used to explain frustrations, demands, concerns, and all of the other things that go wrong between people trying to work together. Understand that ambiguity is the natural state of affairs, so look for the real meanings rather than the individual words. Whenever you hear something, put your feelings aside for a short time until you clearly understand what the message really was.
The phrase "People who want more, better, faster, sooner, NOW!" is just a long way of describing "customers", so anyone in business must be prepared to deal with such people. In this book, you will learn how to approach customers with your feelings placed in the background and all of your information receivers on high-band. With business growing more competitive every day, this may be the only way to remain a viable economic entity.

This book is an essential read for anyone wishing to improve his relationship with clients. However, it also applies to teamwork and employee-manager relationships (even husband-wife relationships). Everybody has expectations and you shall not assume what their expectations because there are big chances that you are wrong.
In this book, you will find how to communicate better, listen better, be skeptic and establish policies and pratices that should make your life easier. All of this discussed with her life's experiences.
Most of the advices will appear as common sense, but it really takes a book to realize what common sense is.

Managing Expectations is a book for everyone who deals with customers or other people with expectations. Using a customer service model, Ms. Karten describes the ways in which people successfully and unsuccessfully manage what people expect. She advises on how to create better working relationships by fostering clearer understandings of the circumstances and limitations which exist in any situation.

Failure to manage expectations often has catestrophic consequences to projects and relationships. Those who want to build long-term relationships and successful projects will consider the cautions and advice presented here.

Ms. Karten uses gentle humor and warmth to tell us the lessons that we need in order to better communicate what we know to our clients.

People who are clients can also use this book to better understand the process of working collaboratively.

It's a fine book for evoking new insights and inspiring better communication.

Great book! I still use it now. It arrived in mint condition!

This is one of the few books providing a framework for implementing technology in a college or university environment. The author uses a straightforward approach to technology. The text is easy to read and understand.

Of the numerous books regarding the recent online learning movement that I have read, this book provided me with the most useful, applicable insights. I enjoyed the author's perceptive knowledge sharing. The resources provided in the book are definitely worth the price of the book. This author illustrates both the advantages and disadvantages of the unique contributions that technology can make in this evolving and exciting realm of online learning.

Tony Bates writes an immensely practical guide for coping with changing technological needs and developing a rational and strategic process for making sound decisions. As a manager in a university department, I appreciated a resource that focused on the academic environment. In addition, I think the issues he raises and the process he proposes have relevance for other educational institutions and training facilities, especially those in the public or non-profit sector which tend to be financially conservative by nature. Bates offers best practices and expert advice on factors to address when confronting technological change, especially as it relates to teaching. As he points out, technology is a means to an end, so in order to best manage technology one must be aware of the inevitable impact technology has in society and, consequently, position the institution within changing markets and needs. Major investments in technological infrastructure must be paired with a corresponding vision of the organization. This book is about the art of managing cultural change as much as it is about incorporating new tools, taking into account the human factors and the hazards implicit therein.

The format of the book is also helpful. It begins with an executive summary, provides concluding summaries at the end of each chapter, provides a balanced perspective on the pros/cons to choices that the institution must make, and presents real-world case studies to give a flavor of principles in action. I highly recommend this reading for anyone in an administrative or teaching capacity who finds himself or herself faced with the difficult choices inherent in a technology transformation. The only thing that would have increased the value of the book for me is a deeper discussion and emphasis on the role of the library or technology center within this transformation.

This book is highly recommended. A regret is that I should have read it sooner. There are intricate details about the transfer of risks from buyer to supplier that would have been invaluable in our project.

Dr Tho's book contains compelling propositions that address many anxieties in managing risks in the ITO exercise. The risk management methods proposed for the supplier as well as the buyer of outsourcing services is new (and I am a practitioner is this area for over a decade). We have used the method he proposes in our current outsourcing project with tremendous success and response. Highly recommended reading and a must before starting a IT outsourcing endeavour!

Dr Ian Tho has expounded both the basics of ITO as well as risk management very well in this book. The concept of the risk dimension signature he refers to has certainly added significant value to our ITO endeavour with our suppliers. The fundamental concepts he refers to are invaluable. Some of the theory he mentions are controversial but have also served to extend our ideas. This has been a real help!!

I want to recommend this book to anyone who is attempting to work an on IT Outsouricng exercise. The examples given are a little complex but it is worth every minute spent to understand. The Risk Dimension Signature the author proposes is exactly what we needed. The writing style could, however, be clearer.

It really looks like a civilization existed on Mars, but the only way to know for sure is to go there. Is NASA hidding the truth? If you found out NASA hid the truth all this time would you be supprised.

Carlotto brings state of the art image analysis techniques to bear on the enigmatic objects of Mars' Cydonia region. He shows that there is a high degree of probability for artificiality, something that NASA and Michael Malin vigorously deny - to this day. This book is a must-read for any serious student of the artificiality hypothesis.

Mark Carlotto's book is a must-buy. Every page is a discovery in itself; the author makes his case, and makes it extremely well: Mars is probably home to non-natural features well within our technological ability to investigate (preferably through manned exploration).

"The Martian Enigmas" is a satisfying piece of popular science that effectively sounds the death toll for "skeptics" who insist it's all our imaginations.

This book explores the fundamentals of image processing as applied to satellite photography. The author also details the processing of the images of constructed features on the surface of the planet Mars. Mr. Carlotto was able to demonstrate in very easy terms the methods used to illuminate these breathtaking images. I eagerly await any book from this author on the latest set of images taken in 1998.

I was especially interested in this book despite the fact that I seldom read fiction, let alone murder mysteries. What got my attention was the fact that it is based on a true event of a downed UFO and its supposed connection to our government's use of a new plasma weapon created by the Department of Energy. What I would want to know was how it was suppressed and what happened to the extraterrestrials in it. But of course the government isn't going to tell us that.

Nancy Williams, however, in her novel The Matter of Destiny has brought the event to our attention in a way that non-fiction cannot do. Due to her excellent writing skills, it is fast-moving, suspenseful, and with a surprise ending. Along the way, the reader finds the truth of the event "between the lines".

Not only is it well-written and entertaining, it's an important book--for the truth it is able to reveal fictionally
Dena Blatt, author of The Artist and the Alien.

When Destin Campbell is supposed to meet his old friend George, and finds him drawing his last breath, and quickly becomes the prime suspect in his murder, you know you're into a tangled web of complications. Seems some important people wanted George silenced. And a number of other people, as well. Seems they knew (or could have known) too much about a top secret weapon being developed by "black government"--i.e. government agencies that have no oversight and no accountability.

Well, as I said, one thing leads to another. As the story quickly unfolds, many more characters become involved, including government scientists (good and bad), people who work at the government-funded laboratory in town, a linguist who's been working with gorillas, some really nice ham radio buffs, a good-hearted trucker, and--oh yes--three teenagers who skip school to expose the evildoers. This book is jam-packed with interesting angles--there's a lot about ham radio, weapons, trucks, motorcycles, extraterrestrials, and there's even a hint of romance. I can't tell you how it turns out, you'll just have to read the book.

Author N.L. Williams writes a fast-paced thriller with some unusual perspectives. If the book has any flaws, it's probably trying to include too much--too many characters, too much information about too many subjects. Sometimes it seems the "bad guys" aren't paying attention, or the "good guys" have too much dumb luck. Still, it's a fun read and will keep you entertained. If you're looking for a thriller with some unusual angles, this may be the book for you. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

In her first published novel, author N. L. Williams uses the breathtaking scenery around Fontana Dam, to
lead us through a tale with almost as many switchbacks as Western North Carolina's legendary Dragon's Tail.

With Orlando's annual Florida hamfest in full swing we meet our main character Destin Campbell, already confused at not being able to locate his longtime North Carolina friend and ham radio buddy, George Eisenhardt. Things get much more confusing when he finally locates George and his dying statement is a cryptic, "Destin, I couldn't - stop them." Sort of moved the normally congenial ham radio gathering to a different level.

From that point on the action is fast-paced as Destin and his growing posse try to stop the escalating body count and discern exactly what "QGBP, alien tech" means.

As the call letters and their equipment indicate, ham radio aficionados can live in their own private world of communication. In this story it's crucial to our heroes to keep in contact while beings from other planets are dropping in and those in charge of our security are taking matters into their own hands and trying to stop them.

William's experiences in search and rescue as part of the Civil Air Patrol, her military background, and degree in Anthropology all benefited her during the writing of this novel. With its multiple characters, with multiple agendas, and intricate plot shifts we learn what we've already suspected, when it's comes to the government things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes our fate and destiny lies in the hands of but a few who choose to stand for what's best for all beings, regardless of where they're from.

Here's a book that will keep you awake--your only question: "Should I watch my back or the skies?" When Destin Campbell finds his best friend George murdered and clutching a cryptic note, "QGPB, alien tech," he has no time to grieve. The police suspect him, and the note that might lead to the real killers has disintegated in water and blood. To avenge his friend and clear himself of guilt, he knows he must use his own resources as Lockheed Martin executive and those of George's friends at the research lab where he had worked on a top-secret project.
Unfortunately, the more he investigates, the more suspicion stacks up against him as bodies keep turning up, people who knew too much. He finally realizes his enemy is the massively powerful "black government" conspiracy. Cold-hearted Colonel Petrowski and his cohorts seek to form a one-world order that will replace nations. He uses his clandestine power to "blur the lines between defensive and offensive actions," while the U.S. foots the bill to research his secret weapon.
Creating a cast of highly believable fictional characters, author Nancy Williams takes her premise from a Roswell-type incident that is said (by many witnesses) to have occurred on November 22, 1992 at Brookhaven, New York, and she acknowledges the report made by J.B. Michaels in his book, UFO Encounters.
The only hope for Destin Campbell (and indeed the world) lies in slip-ups of the many people involved, but mostly in the unexpected alliance of characters who would normally have never come together. Williams does a masterful job of making these characters life-like and their connection plausible, to name a few: a long-haul truck driver, a firefighter, and the love interest, Bonnie Rhodes, who is a gorilla linguistic researcher. All bring their skills to bear as the "Little Davids" fighting a Goliath on steroids!
Williams makes full use of her familiarity with ham radio operating that serves the protagonists so well, and she doesn't fall short on her reseach of technical subjects either. Her explanations, skillfully interwoven as the plot races forward, makes the scenario frighteningly real.
I may never watch a meteorite shower quite the same way again, but I strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes a suspenseful read.

Don't be fooled by the crazy stuff these people are trying to hoodwink you with, as they got their PhD's out of a CornFlakes box.

Only PETER GERASSI knows about this sort of stuff and he can take you to a higher plain, often gloriously referred to as "GERASSIC PARK".

Google his name to find this one TRUE MASTER of Computing on the internet.

This book is an excellent source that covers system, component and architectures of memory systems and how the total computer memory system is put together into a working system. The coverage of the material is up to date and addresses the critical issues that are facing the present and next generation memory systems being implemented and designed today. The book was well written and is a great source for engineering students and even to a degree non-engineering people. For me, a seasoned engineer, that is relatively new to memory systems, is has been a great source in helping me understand the overall system and how it all works. It also addresses some of the major engineering issues facing todays design that I am presently working on and covers the details of the components to give a good overall understanding of how it all fits together. An excellent overall source to have on hand for any engineer working on memory systems

Based on what I have read through so far, it is superb. I can see it very easily becoming the industry's new reference standard for memory system design. Very well done!

Anyone who has built a computer or measured its performance recently knows that all but the slowest CPUs spend roughly 90% of their time twiddling their thumbs, checking their wristwatches, waiting on the memory system. The memory system today defines computer-system performance, yet very little is written about it (how does it work? what are the parameters? how to optimize it? etc.). So we wrote this book to address that -- it covers all facets of memory-systems design. Paraphrasing Richard Sites, one of the lead architects of the DEC Alpha processor over a decade ago, memory systems design is the only thing worth focusing on right now ... all else is a waste of time. Hopefully this will help you to build something that rocks; that was our goal.

Minor correction: the book is hardcover, not paperback.

This is a great book for beginners using the 8088 concepts for programming and interfacing.Clears most of your doubts without consulting your lecturer

I Bought this book on an impulse at the book shop while buying some books on programming. I've never regreted that decision. Its a really good book dealing with the simple basics of microprocessors and digital electronics along with fundamentals of assembly language programming. Any one who wants to learn more about how computers work should buy this one..... I definitely rate it 5-star.

This type of writing is included excellent contents and I like all subjects in it. I am trying to teach the chapters. I don't have an original book. I've borrowed one from the library. I think this one is an old version. I have difficulty get it and borrowing. I always recommend it to students. I want to know if you have and on the CD some documents like this.If I have all documents about this book I will actually help my students. As far as I'm concerned all instructors interested in the microprocessors should read this book.

Explaining 80x86 family processors. This book is very good to start learning how to program microprocessors. Not only that, the author explains how to do interfacing. Buy this book! You won't regret it....