My two cents on "The Duct Tape Programmer"

My two cents on "The Duct Tape Programmer"

I think is important to always have a shippable product. What I don't like is the attitude of "The end justifies the means". In other words the product justifies the unreadable, uncommunicative and untested code. The "Duct Tape" attitude deliver the first version, but at the cost of the second and the third one. The job does not end with the first release.

I believe that the most important thing that Agile and XP practices have shown is the shift from product to process. Placing the emphasis in the successive re-writing and re-thinking that mould the product in his best possible form.

Why I love programming.

I've used writing to give myself an interesting life and a continuing education.

-William Zinsser

Book Review - Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware

One of the most important things for a professional in the software industry, at least from my point of view, is to realize that our work is a creative process, we work from pure thought, and Andy Hunt's book will help you to improve your learning and thinking skills.

The book starts by explaining how our brains work from cognitive science discoveries, and based upon that, how can we improve our continue learning quest; It does so by pointing out several practices to activate more Pathways in our brain so we can learn better, solve problems faster, keep focus, etc... I did recognize several practices described in the book in my study habits and I am excited about trying the new ones, for example the use of a wiki or a blog as an Exocortex, a better way to link notes and ideas (I still have all my book notes on paper, that will change for sure).

Why you should read the Book?

Although the book is part of the Pragmatic Programmers Series and his primary target are developers, anyone looking forward to invest in improving his learning skills will benefited from reading this book, don't fall in the trap to presume that you already know all that there is to know on how to study and learn.