Software Books

This book is excellent. I first read this book in graduate school in 1976, and I continue to find Weinberg's ideas useful. It was outstanding then, and it has held up with time.

Weinberg distills the essence from von Bertalanffy's classic and manages to present it in a very accessible fashion. The book has been out of print for quite a while so it is great to see a new edition. The message and information contained in here, although originally published in 1975, is now more relevant than ever.

Weinberg covers many aspects of systems theory beginning with the main stumbling block with the present scientific paradigm: the idea that the universe is mechanistic. His treatment is much more general than Robert Rosen's in "Life Itself" but still conveys why the mechanistic notion is flawed.

He then outlines the general systems theory approach before leading into the idea that a system is simply a way of looking at the world. He then outlines the principle of indifference. This leads straight into two sections outlining various aspects of making observations. Finally he discusses behaviour and then some general systems questions.

Throughout the book he uses many examples from disparate fields in conjunction with questions for further research. It is great to see someone who doesn't preach systems but actually uses the ideas.

Definitely a must-read as we decided how to solve the myriad of issues before us.

Weinberg's book will not teach you how to be a systems thinker. It will, however, provide a stimulating discussion and thoughtful examination of an alternative approach to problem analysis and solution. The book is not so much about how the systems approach works or how it can be applied to complex problems as it is an invitation to his readers to explore their perceptions of what they think they know versus what they really do know. Throughout the book, Weinberg follows the strategy of leading the reader through a series of logical discussions designed to bring them face to face with their biases and misconceptions about systems vs. reductionist thinking. In doing so, Weinberg exposes the shortcomings of the reductionist approach to problem solving by demonstrating to his readers that the real solutions to some familiar and apparently simple problems are very complex.

Through his examples, Weinberg shows that by viewing a system holistically within its environment, we may be able to discern patterns of behavior/actions and recognize interactions, interrelationships, and interdependencies among the components that will be missed in a reductionist approach. From that view, we can better understand the system and, perhaps, better predict how it will evolve over time. The success of his approach is demonstrated by the fact that people are still reading and quoting his book 25+ years after it was written.

One facet of this book which I found beneficial may be a drawback for some readers. Weinberg wrote from the viewpoint of a computer programmer and a scientist. A person not versed in either field might have difficulty understanding his examples.

I was searching for an alternative to the out-of-print book 'Quality Software Management, vol.1: Systems Thinking', written by the same Author.
Having read few Sofware Management series books from the same Author, which I rate at the very top of my list, I was biased on very high expectations. Surprisingly, I have found it being quite verbose and in the end, I couldn't get too much inspiration out of it.

In computing, a timeless classic is anything that is worth reading for any reason other than to obtain a historical context after five years. If that still holds true after twenty five years, then it is truly an extraordinary piece of work. That label applies to this book. It is not about computing per se, but about how humans think about things and how "facts" are relative to time, our personal experience and environmental context.
Human thinking is a complex operation and that is the point of this book. The problems and examples presented are not those in computing, but problems in how we think about the world and how that world can be different from person to person. In many ways, Weinberg anticipates the development of the science of chaos, where small changes lead to disproportionate large changes. His example of the "small" change of a single character is a classic. A man was considering the purchase of a piece of real estate, but when told the cost was fourteen million dollars, sent the response by telegram, "No, price too high." However, somehow a character was dropped, so the agent received the message, "No price too high", purchased the property and so a classic error was invented.
Weinberg uses science and mathematics as the genesis point for most of his examples. The laws of thermodynamics, chance and simulations in state spaces are used to demonstrate the points. As someone with a wide background in science, I found his examples of how scientific thought gives us an anchor but yet alters over time excellent learning material. Thought problems are included at the end of each chapter and they cover many different areas. Some involve mathematics, others science and many could be the point of a vigorous philosophical debate. Together they form the best collection of thought experiments and points of contention that I have ever seen gathered together in one location.
This is a book that is a true classic, not in computing but in the broad area of scholarship. It is partly about the philosophy and mechanisms of science; partly about designing things so they work but mostly it is about how humans view the world and create things that match that view. This book will still be worth reading for a long time to come and it is on my list of top ten computing books of the year.

I finally got a chance to use this book. I hadn't had time to really sit and play with it. My friend called and needed me to come over and help set up Ipods for all three children. I grabbed the book thinking it may help. And yes it did. I would have been lost without it. It made things so simple and if I had a question it had the answer. I was so excited I came home and used the book to organize my ipods better. A must have for any ipod owner.

It seems to be a fair book. I didn't like the fact that it was in black and white only. I also thought it was a little outdated.

From my hands-on-perusal at the book seller's, I would say that ALL the iPod books are worth buying, but I chose Miller's IPODPEDIA over the others for the following reasons: 1) It is never out of date: Scanning the opening pages in the bookstore, I learned that Miller has a website for his book which he updates in sync with new iPod models and developments, so I put my purchase on hold for that moment with the intention of visiting Miller's website and then making a decision to purchase from the on-shelf possibilities when I next visited the store. I went to ipodpediatheblog.blogspot.com per Miller's instructions. One finds there an ongoing dated history of his evaluations/commentary/tips, not to mention the links to other sites on which he is a significant iPod presence. 2) He shows that the iPod's simplicity is real for the let's-get-going-user, but he also shows that there is a depth to the menus which might not be realized by this user. He supplies a useful chart of the of the menus, model by model. 3) Unlike the other iPod authors, he shows that commercial DVD's can be converted to iPod format, and then he directs the user to the resources. No other authors that I saw on the shelf deal with this possibility.
4) Like the other iPod authors he describes accessories of all kinds, but he gives an opinion about the quality or usability of many of these accessories as well--most useful stuff. 5) Miller lets us know in the opening pages that his book is "Safari Enabled" for those in need of an electronic reference resource. 6) Miller accesses the iPod from a ubiquitous Windows world, though he makes all the necessary concessions to Mac users. Mac or Windows OS? It makes no difference in the usability of this book. Nutshell opinion: The iPodpedia is a most helpful book for beginner AND beyond.

iPodpedia was a Christmas gift I bought for my brother who purchased his iPod in 2006. I bought myself an iPod 80GB Classic and my six-year-old son a iPod Shuffle for Christmas this year and was confident that my brother would share his iPod knowledge with me. Needless to say, the iPodpedia has become the CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

My brother has been reading it like a book and shares all the great tips and tidbits he has found in the well-written book by Michael Miller. I'll receive phone calls from brother so excited, "Hey, did you know that your iPod can do this?"

I'm not certain, but I may have to buy another copy just for myself. What if I can't reach my brother one day and I have a question?

I purchased this book for my Dad because he is always asking me questions about his Ipod. I learned more by reading three pages from the chapter labeled secrets then all of the lookups I have done on my own. I was so impressed with the book that I purchased one for myself. If you own an Ipod or know someone that does, you must purchase this book.

Six hundred ninety-two pages of information. But not for the novice. Web professionals and enthusiasts alike will appreciate a title that's as inclusive as this one. But, as the author points out on page three, you must be, "interested in learning Java". First, determine whether you're interested in Java and second, get your Visa/Mastercard out.

Finally a book that didn't assume I was coming from a C/C++ background. I have between eight and ten different books that looked like "the one" to teach me what I wanted to know in Java. I have little interest in learning applets or SWING based interfaces...my interest is in web based interfaces. This book spoke in terms I could understand easily based on a ColdFusion frame of reference. Eben Hewitt does a great job comparing and contrasting java data structures with ColdFusion ones and letting the CF developer know exactly what the pros and cons the different approaches entail. Th examples are good and applicable to the types of applications I would build. I strongly recommend this book.

I was not so happy to have to search for the code. I tried the website (where the book informs you to go) and discovered it's no longer there. I tried the publisher, who was no help. I performed searches, read forums, and then finally typed the authors name in as the web address and sure enough finally have the code. So, if you purchase this book first make sure you can actaully get your hands on the code. ...

When I began reading "Java for ColdFUsion Developers", I was excited to see how similar writing a Java program is to the syntax used to write CFScript or Action Script. This is an excellent time to learn all three!

The author has organized his information in a logical manner that builds from the basics and moves throught topics that include programming structures and object-oriented application design. Specific to CF developers is the chapter on "Extending ColdFusion with Java" to leverage ColdFusion use in J2EE environments.

Hewitt has an easy tone that makes you feel as though he's talking directly to you. He includes code for creating class files as he moves along to allow you to write and compile as you go. An experienced author with two other CF books behind him, he introduces Java to experienced CF developers who may come from a web background instead of hard-core programming. The book covers the basics thoroughly without breaking your back (unlike other books in my backpack!)

It's not a book for those new to ColdFusion or other types of programming, but it's an excellent resource for those of us who are overwhelmed by the current number of cryptic Java books available. As the introduction to Hal Helms reads, Eben Hewitt achieves his goal by "helping us leverage our ColdFusion knowledge into Java expertise."

Lisa Wilson, Manager, Sacramento ColdFusion User Group

A common experience for someone who wants to learn Java is to end up buying too many books, each covering a different aspect (servlet, JSP, Jakarta Struts, ad nauseum), with overlapping topics, and at times even contradicting one another. Eben Hewitt, who has written extensively about ColdFusion and also authored a ColdFusion training course on CD-ROM, has probably written the only book book on Java that you'll need if you are a ColdFusion developer.

His writing is clear, concise, and he tries everywhere possible to relate Java to some aspect of what a ColdFusion developer does in CFML. His coverage of Java may not be as thorough as a Java purist (or fanatic) would want, but everything you need to know is really there within one book, instead of maybe ten. It is enough to wet your appetite, and if you then are still a glutton for punishment, you should seek more detailed and specific reference for the particular platform that you are working in, be it SUN's, IBM's, BEA's, or whatever vendor software your company happens to be using. But, Java is platform-independent, you say! Well, there is this bridge in Brooklyn...

I have not found any other good keynote book. This is informative, has lots of good information and more.Well done. Lots of good ideas, tips and tricks.

I have gone over this book from front to back and find that there is nothing that I found wanting in the book. I learned things I could use in every chapter.

If you don't own the book, use Keynote or want to use Keynote, this is the book for you.

Tom Negrino's book is all you will need to become a expert user of Keynote. Each process is broken down into easy-to-follow steps, including exactly which keystrokes are necessary. Especially useful are the many Tips and Screenshots that are included every chapter. I will be heartily recommending "Keynote for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide" to all of our Mac Users Group next week when I do a presentation on Keynote.

An excellent book for a beginner to Keynote or a seasoned veteran. Very easy to understand and very well written. The book flows seamlessly form one topic to the next. Great book!

Forget the manual, get this book instead, especially if you want to learn how Themes and Master slides are constructed. I run KeynoteUser.com and I was the tech editor on this book (I read every page, cover to cover). I also wrote the first draft of the chapter on building custom themes...all that to say I STILL learned things from this book while I was reading through it. There's stuff in there you just won't find anywhere else. And no, I don't get any royalties from the sale of the book (that all goes to Tom for his hard work), I just think it's something every Keynote user should own.

I really liked this book of the way it is written for easy understanding and examples. Also the author is very helpful in adding more insights into the various topics and even to the extent of communicating with one on one. I really recommend this book to any programmer.

Excellent book - does not waste words and full of useful code examples.

I found the book a must have when you begin with CVI. It should be on your shelf right above your PC while you are on your 5th can of coke digging in code at 3 am. I was very pleased that the author responded back to my tech e_mail. He is a class guy. Thank you, Mr. Khalid

This is a really good book for someone who is starting out using Labwindows CVI. I had a little knowledge of C but the book really did a good job of filling in the blanks and refreshing my memory. After only reading the first few chapters I was programing great user interfaces over the GPIB. I have already recommended this book to a number of fellow students.

This is truly an excellent book; a real must for any LabWindows/CVI beginner.

Each section uses well thought out examples to demonstrate the features and libraries available to the programmer. The topic areas covered in this book ensure that the user can quickly generate code that will produce professional looking solutions for any application. The GPIB and RS232 tutorials are superb, providing essential background information in both these crucial areas.

A real must for any CVI developer!

This is a sensitive and heartfelt book which deals with the life of a man who happens to be bisexual. It is a measure of widespread social disapproval that Will feels forced to use a pseudonym, but a measure of his courage that he tells his story to his friends, and a wider audience who come to feel part of that group, despite this social disapproval. The book is highly original and readable, and in addition displays a delicacy about handling sensitive issues. Although questions about Will's life, and his family, remain unanswered, this is a welcome addition to first-person narratives about bisexuality which have in the main been authored by women.

An amazing integration of science, both high and popular culture, and personal human experience that ties it all together. An excellent effort at balanced presentation on a complex and controversial topic. We can all learn from this jewel of a lifetime's experience. Well worth the read!

This book takes the reader through the personal journey of coming to terms with his sexuality. Through candid and honest discussions with family members and stories of interactions with people in his everyday life,we are priveldged to witness a mans process of finding pride in himself dispite societys ignorance. The scientific questioning of the role of genetics and sexuality was fascinating.Well written and inspiring.

Most interesting book in that it mixes stories, concepts, ideas about sexual orientation, bisexuality, marriage, A.A., etc. Entertaining indeed and different from the usual straight plot or highly scientific studies - in addition Will has a fascinating theory with respect to genes and sexual orientation

For many of us in the GLBTQ Community the "B", Bisexual, is the area in which we feel least knowledgeable. But now we have Will S's A LETTER TO MY FRIENDS. In this concise and eminently readable book Will S takes us from his childhood period of self-discovery, through his adolescence and his two marriages, to today, all from the perspective of a Bisexual man. His good humor and warmth come alive on every page. The pain is there too, but not in an "in your face way." If you have experienced pain in your own life, you will recognize it in his. I felt that a trusted friend was allowing me to read his diary. Whether you are GLBTQ, or none of the above, get this book. It is the kind of book you will leave on your coffee table to share with those who are important in your

Plenty of books promise project management skills and most contain concrete, practical information - especially when it's applied on a case-by-case basis meeting certain conditions rather as a global strategy for everything. This book is for software managers but also for business managers who would understand the special applications and methods for building and managing projects. From using life cycles and creating a fine team to managing meetings and multiple projects and goals, MANAGE IT! YOUR GUIDE TO MODERN, PRAGMATIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT is a highly recommended acquisition for any business library.

This book is years of experience condensed to its best. It addresses all important aspects of modern project management. It is objective towards many different processes but it clearly makes the point that agile is the best choice in most cases.

While reading this book, it opened my eyes again and again -- Yep, been there, seen that.

I encourage every project manager to read this book from beginning to end; this will put hooks in your mind to come back later and re-read the appropriate chapter when needed. After having read this book, it makes a great reference. I use it to make sure I have not overseen anything when reaching certain life cycle events.

Thanks Johanna, this book was overdue for a long time!

Manage It! will help you understand how to manage projects effectively, taking into account the needs of the people working on the project as well as the needs of the business sponsors. In this regard Johanna Rothman follows in the steps of authors like Jerry Weinberg in showing you how to set up a project environment that helps software developers be more effective and thus be better able to deliver value to their customers. This book has lots of pragmatic advice on how to make progress and issues visible, how to plan a project, and most everything else you need to help a project come to a good conclusion. This book is unique in that while it discusses the benefits of agile lifecycles, it shows you how to make progress in a variety of software lifecycles, and how to introduce techniques that will help your team to be more effective even if they don't really "fit" into your defined process.

Buy this book if you want to be a more effective project manager (or technical lead who works with project managers), or if you want to be more agile but are not sure how. What I liked most about this book is the focus on how project management processes can help people be more (or less) effective; an understanding of the primary role of people in a project is key to being more agile.

Every organization/team is different, the things that work well for one may or may not be applicable for another. It is not a beginner's book or a step by step guide to software project management. It's a great reference on things you can expect, what you can do about it and why you would want to do it that way. The great thing about this book is that it gives you the information to determine which practices you want to use and how to adapt it to your situation.

Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management by Johanna Rothman is the best project management reference I've ever read, and I've seen my share of project management tomes. Here's what I like best about the book: it's not theological. By this I mean Rothman doesn't advocate one "true" way of running projects. She is very careful to be continually cognizant of context when she talks about different approaches you might take. In this sense, she is very situational about prescribing solutions, which I like because it helps a project manager develop what I think is a critical attribute of a good project manager: good judgment.

One of my favorite chapters is Recognizing and Avoiding Schedule Games, which uses comic art and prose to explain and fix schedule games that can occur on projects. Here are a few from the book:
- Bring Me a Rock
- Hope Is Our Most Important Strategy
- Queen of Denial
- Sweep Under the Rug
- 90% Done
and so on, for a total of 16 entertaining schedule games that every project manager eventually needs to face.

Rothman is an entertaining writer with a knack for interesting prose and practical advice. Unlike most PM books I've read, I've not found anything yet where I was inclined to ignore her advice or felt an approach would require too much work and yield too little benefit. She definitely has a propensity toward simple, sustainable approaches to project management, something I sincerely appreciate due to my strong disdain for any approach with substantial overhead.

Another great feature of this book is you can read it out of order, either by opening it randomly or by simply reading the sections that interest you at the moment or that apply to problems you are struggling with.

Buy it. Try it. It's worth it.

Well laid out manual for learning some of the finer secrets of using Word 2003.

This book tells you exactly what you need to know for the exam. I was able to concentrate on the proper information without worry. I passed the exam first time :D

This book is for everyone, novice, intermediate and experts (who need a refreshers course). Its plain and to the point. There was one section of it that was not quite right, however, this is no fault of the seller but the writers of the book. Once you over look that it works just as stated in the book. The book got to my freight forwarder quicker than I expected.

Fast shipping. Book received in same great condition as described on website. All in all, an A+ transaction.

I've been using Word 2000 for years. I was finally able to get most of thr functions I needed to work, but it was a "try & try again" approach. The on line manual is helpful, IF you know what questions to ask. And most software has features you might not be aware of, and therefore can't use.

The Word 2003 Step by Step manual is wonderful. You can find what you want to do easily in the index, then get step by step instructions on how to do the project. You can just read the index and/or manual, and learn of the many features available that you never knew existed, and so hadn't tried to use.

It's like having an instructor on hand, any time you want one. I expanded my use of Word greatly, just by learning about new features, on learning how to do things I knew existed, but couldn't figure out how to access.

I highly recommend this book.

This book does a good job of doing exactly what the title says it would do. I bought this because at work our company has always lived in a Wintel World. But we acquired another company that was Linux centric and it was clear that us Windows people needed a crash course of Linux. I needed some quick exposure to Linux and a way to cut my learning curve by being able to understand how to transfer tasks in Windows over to Linux. This book shortened my learning curve because as good as the net is about giving information to us for free. Sometimes I just like curling up with a good book.

Firstly i live in a caribbean country ..there are no linux user groups ...any info yu get from linux if you find one, user you most likely have to pay for ..I successfully installed linux already but i had no clue what was going on after that ..i have reached chapter 3 in this book and if there were no more pages i already got my monies worth.This book is truly built with the linux dummy in mind ..thanks mr easttom

I hated Linux until i read this book. I haven't turned on my Windows box all month. Very clearly written and easy to read.

It is a book, explaining Linux in a simple,
clear manner. Best for a reader with some
Windows skills.

It was my old dream to learn Linux. I had heard that it
is a stable, free operation system. Having little
understanding about Linux before, I read the book,
installed Linux and now feel comfortable with it.

I found this particular book to be remarkably easy to follow, accurate, informative, and generally a great help. I am not a computer professional by trade, and my only experience has been with Windows. But like many people I have been quite frustrated with Windows and wished to try Linux. With this book I was able to install Linux and to use it to do all the things I had previously done with Windows.

Good book and software to get started. Users should have a basic understanding of computers and PC operating systems if using on older machines. But the software worked great out of the book. I would recommend.

I found the book a good resource for someone trying to make the transition to Linux, and "Damn Small Linux" a good operating system for my old computer. Thanks to the authors and the many hours work they obviously put into the writing.

Jerry

This book consolidates material that you would otherwise have to spend days scouring the web and forums to find. (Not to mention the misinformation that is often floating around out there.) Damn Small Linux is a great operating system with a great development team and community. And this book provides tons of detail on how to use it.

I first started my journey into DSL via another book; Craig Hollabaugh's "Embedded Linux, Hardware, Software, & Interfacing," 2002, ISBN 0-672-32226-9. This book is extremely valuable, if you wish to know how to put together a small single purpose embedded Linux system. However, by the time that I began to read it in 2005 (marriage, moving), it was beginning to show it's age. Most of the links to additional reading, at the end of each chapter, were broken. In addition, most of the projects that I have been associated with, require some form of primitive GUI.

Enter DSL! I fell in love immediately. Here were all of the missing pieces. Until the appearance of this book, the web and patience, were the only way to gain a good grounding in the techniques specific to this distro. The contents of this work are not just a repeat of that found on the net. The materials included are complementary to that information.

Don't just read the 1st half of the book. Read the project material also. There are gems to be gleaned therein.

The only complaint that I have about the book is in the binding, which is quite stiff, and therefore does not easily lend itself to setting next to the keyboard, or project workspace. I took my working copy (I have three) to an office supply store and had it coil bound for ~ $6.00. Problem solved.

Good job guys...

I have been a fan of the DSL distribution for several years, and was pleased hear of the book's release. While there is an abundance of online information for DSL (as well as other Linux distributions), having a "hard copy" reference available is handy. The book is well written, and documents the features of this extremely full-featured minimalist Linux. While the book comes with a CD inside the back cover, I would download the distribution directly and use the very active user forum for the latest information.