- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Addison Wesley; 1 edition (19 July 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0201844575
- ISBN-13: 978-0201844573
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 18.7 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
42,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Programming > Software Design, Testing & Engineering > Extreme Programming
- #9 in Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Production, Manufacturing & Operational > Systems
- #25 in Books > Computers & Internet > Software & Graphics > Software Design & Development
- See Complete Table of Contents
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Ever since Extreme Programming burst on to the application development scene in 1998, it has been a lightning rod for controversy. With its emphasis on programmer-based development, many professionals love it. However, Extreme Programming contradicts many of the traditional beliefs in software development; therefore, many professionals hate it. Either way, potential adopters and opponents need to make decisions on Extreme Programming. In Questioning Extreme Programming, author Pete McBreen puts this agile approach to application development under the microscope, and closely examines both sides of this heated debate.
From the Back Cover
Extreme Programming (XP) has been the subject of heated debate since its arrival on the programming scene in 1998—understandably so, as it contradicts many traditional software development beliefs. We¿ve heard success stories about sweeping changes made to organizations as a result of XP. We’ve read books about how this approach can work for our teams. However, are there times when XP isn’t appropriate? There are certainly instances when making the leap to XP could potentially jeopardize a whole project. What’s missing from all of this rhetoric? Witness Pete McBreen, software craftsman, examine the issue from both sides.
In Questioning Extreme Programming, the author helps you examine and answer the following questions:
After reading this thought-provoking book, software developers can make informed decisions about Extreme Programming, and whether it is suitable for their organization. Readers will also be able to determine whether Extreme Programming is inappropriate for a particular project. The author challenges you to look past the hype and start asking the hard questions about how software is built. Discover for yourself.
0201844575B07092002
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Extreme Programming (XP) is an incredibly hyped software development method - but is it any good? The voices talking about it are either fanatically enthusiastic or completely dismissive, so it's rather difficult to get "objective" views: Pete McBreen's book stands out as being somewhere in the middle. The opinions expressed, of course, are McBreen's, but he does present every side of the argument before reaching his conclusions.
The book summarizes XP's origins which, McBreen explains, suggests limits for its successful deployment - something missing from the enthusiast's claims. It also includes descriptions of why various aspects of XP work and, specifically, why they work now when they didn't a decade or so ago: this sort of thing could be helpful in persuading someone hostile to XP to at least take a look.
Overall an very interesting and worthwhile read - my only criticism is that the writing style is a little dry in places.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Entertaining debunking of XP mythos, but not concrete enough
28 Nov 2003
Format:Paperback
The biggest thing I liked was that it didn't just focus on XP, but also hit on a lot of other methodologies, doing some comparisons and contrasts. Expect to understand what all the hubub is about after going through it, without needing to buy into any of the other Agile background books first. You will probably also be able to take away a high-level piece or two of advice from it.
It's not something I would purchase, though, because it stays pretty high-level through much of the book, and doesn't really have much reference material value. I was also a bit dismayed that he hadn't run a project with XP yet. He cheerfully admitted it in the introduction, and his reviewers were all of the hardcore folks associated with XP; however, that still gave me the same feeling as I would get reading a book entitled Questioning Low-Fat Recipies from the Two Fat Ladies, where they claimed they'd never tried any. Sure, they're FAR better cooks than I am. And probably see more different types of recipies in a given week than I will in a year. But I just would get the feeling I might be missing the whole picture and that too many of the judgements are value-laden and not backed by concrete examples of things that went wrong in his XP projects.
Also, it was weird for a book this small, but I felt like it repeated itself in a couple of the 'summary' end of chapter sections, especially near the end of the book.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
explains XP jargon, but doesn't support its assertions
18 Mar 2003
Format:Paperback
I found the book Questioning Extreme Programming to provide a good explanation of XP for people who don't already know its jargon.
However, Pete's assertion that XP only works in a certain niche of possible project-types isn't supported in the book -- the assertion is made many times, but no real evidence is presented. Since there are many successful projects out there doing XP, the niche must not be as small as Pete says.
I agree with one point from another (not yet published) book on agile software development: XP can provide a great improvement in software quality in those companies that don't already have a good development process. If your company has a good development process with acceptible agility and good enough results, you don't need to change what you do.
Valuable read for the XP/Agile devotee
27 Oct 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'll tell you at the outset I'm a big fan of agile programming. I lived through many years of waterfall development and all the pain that ensued. Having been convinced of the power and flexibility of Agile methodologies though hands on expereince there is *no* going back (never say never, eh?).
Although this book is written to debunk XP (no matter what the intro says), it doesn't do that job. What is does do very well is raise many of the questions that anyone intersted in Agile should ask themselves -- no matter if they have been practicing agile methodologies for years, or if they are just thinking about it.
Even if your are a 100% died in the wool fan of agile/XP/whatever - this is a very valuable book. It'll cause you to think and question. And that is always good.
Although this book is written to debunk XP (no matter what the intro says), it doesn't do that job. What is does do very well is raise many of the questions that anyone intersted in Agile should ask themselves -- no matter if they have been practicing agile methodologies for years, or if they are just thinking about it.
Even if your are a 100% died in the wool fan of agile/XP/whatever - this is a very valuable book. It'll cause you to think and question. And that is always good.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
