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Engineering Long-Lasting Software
This book teaches the engineering fundamentals for long-lasting software using the highly-productive Agile development method for Software as a Service (SaaS) using Rails.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2012
About the author
Armando Fox
11 books1 followerArmando Fox is a Professor at UC Berkeley, the faculty advisor to the UC Berkeley MOOCLab, and the winner of the 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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February 19, 2012IMHO, any low rating to this book is not fair. The book is in alpha stage and only the half of the chapters have been released.
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December 20, 2012I think this book can be a nice reference for people who want to get a straight forward and brief intro to:
1-Agile development.
2-Rails framework.
3-Software as a service architecture.
It's also supported by an academic course that's available for free @ Coursera.
1-Agile development.
2-Rails framework.
3-Software as a service architecture.
It's also supported by an academic course that's available for free @ Coursera.
July 6, 2012
I have written a lengthy review here:
http://c.kat.pe/engineering-long-last...
http://c.kat.pe/engineering-long-last...
December 29, 2021
This is the printed material for the eponym BerkelyX CS169x course which used to be offered on edX. https://edge.edx.org/courses/Berkeley...
I found the course, and the associated book, to be extremely valuable in providing me skills to maintain and evolve legacy projects, push reluctant teams towards more testing, and on top of it learn Ruby on Rails.
The main issue I have with the book is that the layout is for from convenient, or even professional, sometimes hindering readability : it might me it hard to use for someone who didn't follow the matching course.
I found the course, and the associated book, to be extremely valuable in providing me skills to maintain and evolve legacy projects, push reluctant teams towards more testing, and on top of it learn Ruby on Rails.
The main issue I have with the book is that the layout is for from convenient, or even professional, sometimes hindering readability : it might me it hard to use for someone who didn't follow the matching course.
February 1, 2018
This book was associated to the first MOOC class I took when Udacity first started.
November 29, 2012
I read the alpha version, then the additional chapters in the beta version.
It made me think about (and the accompanying course got me to actually use/put into practice) TDD/design patterns/security/performance and used many easy to understand examples. Not to mention introducing me to concepts and practices I'd never even heard of. And best of all, tools to actually put those into practice (code smells-reek/monitoring-relic/user stories-cucumber/factories-factorygirl/probably more I'm forgetting).
I also took coursera.org's CS169.1 and am taking edx.org's CS169.2 class which the course is built around and is taught by the authors. Great accompaniment to the book, especially the homework assignments (though 169.2's homework 1-2 is a little too easy).
A few quibbles: for rspec tests I wish they'd have use some best practices (eg carbonfive) and I seem to recall them using eval(or instance/class_eval) and reading about how that's not really the best way to do that stuff in the pickaxe book. I could complain about a few errors, but it's beta so it's to be expected.
I'm definitely looking forward to what the authors have in store for the future.
It made me think about (and the accompanying course got me to actually use/put into practice) TDD/design patterns/security/performance and used many easy to understand examples. Not to mention introducing me to concepts and practices I'd never even heard of. And best of all, tools to actually put those into practice (code smells-reek/monitoring-relic/user stories-cucumber/factories-factorygirl/probably more I'm forgetting).
I also took coursera.org's CS169.1 and am taking edx.org's CS169.2 class which the course is built around and is taught by the authors. Great accompaniment to the book, especially the homework assignments (though 169.2's homework 1-2 is a little too easy).
A few quibbles: for rspec tests I wish they'd have use some best practices (eg carbonfive) and I seem to recall them using eval(or instance/class_eval) and reading about how that's not really the best way to do that stuff in the pickaxe book. I could complain about a few errors, but it's beta so it's to be expected.
I'm definitely looking forward to what the authors have in store for the future.
February 23, 2012
Este libro fue parte de un curso que se sigue dando en la UC campus Berkeley acerca de Ingeniería de Software y SaaS. Es la edición alfa e incluye mucho material acerca de cómo integrar metodologías ágiles en el desarrollo de una aplicación web. Esta versión no contiene todo el material que será impartido en el curso en Berkeley, sólo es una introducción. Además, este curso se abrió en línea de manera gratuita a todo el mundo, y es de donde me enteré y decidí comprar el libro (era un requisito para el curso).
Hasta el momento lo que he checado ha sido bastante ilustrativo, cubre muchos conceptos de ingeniería de software y los integra al desarrollo de aplicaciones en la web. Resume varias ideas que se han venido aplicando en diferentes ámbitos de la programación y las integra.
Este libro no es para darle una sola leída. Lo expuesto sólo es una introducción, y por cada tema hay que darle una revisada para comprenderlos mejor.
Espero la siguiente parte del curso y la versión ya terminada de este libro.
Hasta el momento lo que he checado ha sido bastante ilustrativo, cubre muchos conceptos de ingeniería de software y los integra al desarrollo de aplicaciones en la web. Resume varias ideas que se han venido aplicando en diferentes ámbitos de la programación y las integra.
Este libro no es para darle una sola leída. Lo expuesto sólo es una introducción, y por cada tema hay que darle una revisada para comprenderlos mejor.
Espero la siguiente parte del curso y la versión ya terminada de este libro.
February 26, 2012
This review is for Alpha version that lacks half of the chapters.
I liked that chapters are short, but still contains a lot of information. Might not be all so new for those who already know lot, but I like to read something for assurane.
Good introduction to start building ruby on rails apps. The service oriented thing (Berkley course uses this book) comes into play few moments and narrows down some tool, architecture decisions.
I like that it tells not only how, but also why, gives new perspective or reminds of the forgotten.
It encourages me to write better (hence, long-lasting) software, because it is so easy within ruby on rails infrastruture.
Can't wait for the full version. If that will not be spoiled, I give 5*
I liked that chapters are short, but still contains a lot of information. Might not be all so new for those who already know lot, but I like to read something for assurane.
Good introduction to start building ruby on rails apps. The service oriented thing (Berkley course uses this book) comes into play few moments and narrows down some tool, architecture decisions.
I like that it tells not only how, but also why, gives new perspective or reminds of the forgotten.
It encourages me to write better (hence, long-lasting) software, because it is so easy within ruby on rails infrastruture.
Can't wait for the full version. If that will not be spoiled, I give 5*
September 29, 2012
The first part was beta while the second was alpha version.
The book goes with the MOOCS course SaaS from Berkeley currently offered through edx.org platform.
It is recommended reading but I think it is a must read as the course, in its two parts, covers everything about Agile development through SaaS platforms.
I really enjoyed the course so the reading was also very good. I did not give 5 stars because the second part in alpha needs some improvements.
If you are into SaaS and want to learn Ruby on Rails best practices it is worth reading it. Although this is not a Ruby nor Rails text book but about the whole process
The book goes with the MOOCS course SaaS from Berkeley currently offered through edx.org platform.
It is recommended reading but I think it is a must read as the course, in its two parts, covers everything about Agile development through SaaS platforms.
I really enjoyed the course so the reading was also very good. I did not give 5 stars because the second part in alpha needs some improvements.
If you are into SaaS and want to learn Ruby on Rails best practices it is worth reading it. Although this is not a Ruby nor Rails text book but about the whole process
February 28, 2012
This is the alpha version of this book, and is missing half the chapters. I decided to base my review on what's there, since it was advertised as alpha and I knew exactly what I was getting.
I think it's a really great start and I look forward to reading the additional chapters when they are released. The authors provide a great overview of SaaS and the internet as a whole, and then dive down into specific implementation details. I do think the real payoff will be in the second half of the book, when all those details can be used to show even more SaaS software engineering concepts.
I think it's a really great start and I look forward to reading the additional chapters when they are released. The authors provide a great overview of SaaS and the internet as a whole, and then dive down into specific implementation details. I do think the real payoff will be in the second half of the book, when all those details can be used to show even more SaaS software engineering concepts.
August 26, 2012
I bought and read the book in conjunction with a free online SAAS course with www.coursera.org. Together with the video courses I completed five chapters of the group which made brilliant reading explaining the philosophy of hardware vs software testing and the whole focus on TDD (Test Driven Development). For someone like me who comes from a network based background this TDD approach is pretty far fetched at the moment. But I found the concepts interesting to know at the least.
February 8, 2012
I read the Alpha version of the book. Lots of kinks, but well designed.
March 6, 2012
This is a good companion for the Berkeley SaaS course; but reading it along it's brings a lot of misconceptions about building software because it's superficially way of introducing new topics.
May 28, 2013
Used it throughout EdX's MOOC, excellent read - highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews