Micro-ISV: From Vision to Reality (Paperback)

This book focuses on the requirements for running a business in the USA, but includes large sections for those based in the UK and Australia. It also provides a short tutorial in David Allen's "Getting Things Done" personal productivity methodology.

The book contains the following chapters:
(1) "Having a Vision" shows that it is still possible to make a fast billion, even in the post dot-com era.
(2) "Micro-ISV Development" shows that it is not just the programming that counts, but the basic design, implement, test life-cycle, and some of the tools that can help. We are also shown a couple of Walsh's own prototypes from his MasterList task & project management software.
(3) "The Product" is not just the application you have written. This chapter shows what else is involved, from icons to demos, domain names and websites (including blogs), and the all-important pricing and selling.
(4) "Business is Business" goes through the pros and cons of different sorts of businesses that can be set up in the USA (and also for the UK and Australia), copyright, licensing, and provides some tips on getting things done.
(5) "Focus on the Customer" includes marketing tips, technical support, and handling the vast amount of email that a Micro-ISV can receive, together with a round-up of tools to help with these tasks.
(6) "Welcome to your Industry" and, more to the point, how to cope with the big boys, indeed, how to get them to work for you. Walsh shows us round a few of Microsoft's programmes. He also shows us some of the peer-to-peer resources available to the budding Micro-ISV.
(7) "What Happens Next?" brings us a slew of interviews with various people who have also been down this road.

In summary, a useful handbook of how to set up a Micro-ISV, and how to keep it moving, and I look forward to seeing where Walsh goes next.

The author obviously talks about his own software products. Occasionally this does feels like as if it is verging on a sales pitch. But that is understandable in the circumstances and doesn't detract from the usefulness of the book.

[Disclosure: I am one of the micro-ISV owners interviewed in the book. However I haven't met the author face to face and have no financial interest in the book.]

One part of the book I found particularly useful, was the discussions about different tools that are available to make your job easier, especially with regards to testing your product.

Toward the end of the book, there are a series of interviews with other people who run small ISV's, these range from people who have just started out, through to people who have been doing it a while and are quite successful, most notably Fog Creek Software.

The book contains the following chapters.

1. Having a Vision
2. Developing the Micro-ISV Way
3. Presenting the Product
4. Business is Business
5. Focusing on the Customer
6. Welcome to Your Industry
7. What Happens Next

Micro-ISV From Vision To Reality was written by Bob Walsh from Safari Software, and is published by Apress books.