We know what it's like. As developers, we're drowning in decisions. What methodology should we use? What tools? What practices work? These are all-important decisions: choose poorly, and our project--and our team--suffer. That's where Pragmatic Projects comes in. Authors Jared Richardson and Will Gwaltney have lived through it all, and have created a short, readable book summarizing what really works on a project. From underfunded startups to the largest privately held software company in the world, their tips and suggestions have been proven and refined. If you're frustrated with methodologies that are too extreme, too complicated, or just aren't feasible, then this book is for you. Pragmatic Projects avoids fashion trends and marketing hype. Instead, you'll find page after page of solid advice, all tried and tested in the real world. It is a collection of tips showing you what tools a successful team has to use, and how to use them well. You'll get quick, easy-to-follow advice on modern techniques and when they should be applied. Few of the ideas presented here are controversial or extreme; most experienced programmers will agree that this stuff works.
Yet 50 to 70 percent of all project teams in the U.S. aren't able to use even these simple, well-accepted practices effectively. This book will help them get started. Pragmatic Projects begins with the common technical infrastructure that every project needs. You can choose from a variety of recommended technologies according to your skills and budget to get the job done. The next section outlines the necessary steps to get software out the door reliably, using well-accepted, easy-to-adopt, best-of-breed practices that really work. Finally, and most importantly, Pragmatic Projects presents common problems-and danger signs-that arise and offers real-world advice on how to solve them, in the widely-accepted form of a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).