A Methodology for Client/Server and Web Application Development (Yourdon Press Computing Series) (Paperback)

He has also provided some real life examples that will help you both avoid the most commonly encountered problems, and using best practices, be capable of successfully delivering a major Development effort.

Fournier's coverage of the testing process is detailed and complete. Testing is covered in the development phase's chapters, from analysis to construction. Chapter 8 is entirely dedicated to client/server and web testing. Chapter 9 provides some valuable discussions on the type of IT technology infrastructures that must be put in place to facilitate the development and support of mission-critical client/server and web database applications. In chapter 9, Fournier also describes some of the most critical system management services that are required to successfully manage distributed IT environments. Finally, chapter 9 ends with a very complete but high level description of all the different web technologies that an organization can use to increase productivity in the work place.

The information on GUI design is relevant and to the point, although it is scattered in different chapters of the book. Even though chapter 12 is entirely dedicated to this important subject, Fournier should have consolidated all GUI-related design guidelines in a single chapter. Such an approach would have saved valuable time for busy developers who want to quickly read, in one location, everything there is about this subject. I also wish Fournier had covered web-specific GUI guidelines in greater depth in chapter 11, which also covers a variety of design topics on web application development. His treatment of web page navigation provides interesting guidelines and suggestions.

Although Fournier clearly stated that his book does not cover project management activities, it would have been nice to provide more information on this important subject. It could have been the subject of a separate chapter or maybe an appendix. However, in his book's preface Fournier states that a "companion" book on project management should be written soon. I am not aware of any comparable methodology book out there that can compete with Fournier's book, except maybe some costly commercial methodologies. As a whole, I most definitely recommend this down-to-earth, practical technical reference guide on large client-server and web application development software to both developers and Project Managers. Despite little quirks, I give Fournier's book five stars and hope he publishes a companion book on project management best practices in the not too distant future.