BOOK REVIEW: Code Leader, by Patrick Cauldwell
Mar 5th, 2009 by AZuidhof
I am currently slashing my way through Code Leader: Using People, Tools, and Processes to Build Successful Software by Patrick Cauldwell. Since the book doesn’t seem to show up in reviews , and I thought it deserved a mention, here goes:
It is set up around the three parts Philosophy (TDD, CI), Process (Testing/Source control, code analysis) and Code Construction (Dependencies, Tracing, Error Handling). Always concise and to the point, though something going a bit into detail on the intricacies of build scripts and other monsters of XML. It is not specifically mentioned, but the book is clearly aimed at Microsoft / .NET developers. But lots of open source and commercial tools mentioned are also available in for other development platforms. It is certainly not plugging Microsoft in any way. For example, Team System is only mentioned three times in the whole book, in the parts explaining the build process and source control, and even then in a casual manner.
For a book aiming to transcend the IDE-centered explanation of how to program, I expected it to be even less low on code than it actually is. But clearly, you should already have a firm grasp of the IDE, and would like to go to the next level of using additional tools, combined with that other wonderful resource, people, to make a better product. That’s what this refreshing book is all about: making working product together.
You will find an abundance of small and big tips (probably familiar with some already) like:
- adding a slight delay in you continuous build process to prevent a couple of atomic checkins by one developer all triggering a new build
- setting your acceptable level of code coverage that will trigger a build fail to just below your current level, instead of some ridiculously high level that will result in build failures for weeks to come
- etc.etc. I won’t spoil in giving more details, get a copy and read it yourself!
Conclusion: This affordable 200-page book gives a seasoned developer a couple nights of good and light reading where she surely will learn a trick or two. And probably much more.
Rating: 8 (out of 10).
Welcome dear visitor! I'm your host, Arjan Zuidhof. Have a look around on this opinionated linkblog, take a peek at the links, and if you like what you see, don't forget to subscribe to the feed (at the top, on your right) and receive fresh links daily in your reader.
Dutch? You might be interested in my -new!!!- link blog 
Glad to see someone else liked this book as well. I think it’s a hidden gem. As you said, small, affordable and to the point. not a lot of fluff in the book. Also good to give to a development team, when implementing some of these processes. As usual, thanks for the post.
~Lee
@Lee: thanks for the comment! IMO the range of books being reviewed is far too small, too much rehashing going on. If I have seen two or three reviews I’m OK, thankyouverymuch. No need for review after review basically stating that it was a good book.