Product Description
In Software Creativity 2.0, acclaimed author Robert L. Glass explores a critical, yet strangely neglected, question: What is the role of creativity in software engineering and computer programming? With his trademark easy-to-read style and practical approach, backed by research and personal experience, Glass takes on a wide range of related angles and implications. To name only a few: * Are discipline and formality at odds with flexibility and agility… More >>
Tags: agility, angles, author robert, computer programming, Creativity, formality, personal experience, robert l glass, Software, software engineering
I am very interesting in the discussion of process versus product and standardization versus creativity. I was expecting some more specifics and industry results. Instead, the book ends up by being highly philosophical.
Rating: 3 / 5
I was somewhat apprehensive about the book, but I took other reviews on faith and purchased it. I can’t say that the ideas are groundbreaking, but glass presents both sides of the argument with a minimum of bias. A long story short, I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 5 / 5
-==Pro’s==-
-Author cites his sources.
-The author presents some new ideas, that seem to be fresh.
-The author has a good sense of humor, and in sections of the book his writing style is enjoyable.
-==Con’s==-
-This book at times seems as if it goes out of its way to stir people up.
-The title and description of the book led me to believe it applied to my area of interest, however it did not.
-Some of the things I read, I just plain disagree with.
-The author gives advice based on theory, and uses anecdotes rather than facts.
-==summary==-
For the most part, the reasons I do not like this book are personal. I am a solo programmer. I work alone on small personal projects as a hobby. It seems as if there are not many programming methodologies that apply to me in this position. I had hoped that this book would have some tidbits that would prove useful for me. Early on, the book states explicitly that it is not intended to be useful for the solo programmer, but does give some recommendations on what a solo programmer could read. After reading through the first half of the book I found myself very disappointed.
The book had some disturbing views on the relation between Mathematics and Computer Science. It reads something like “There are word processors and simulators and games and software tools of various kinds, such as compilers, all of which do virtually no mathematics whatsoever.”. This is a quote. I believe in the section of the book I got this from, the author is making a case for why math should not be taught as heavily (if at all) in CS courses. There might be no math in *some* games and simulators, but if there is, I have not seen it.
The author also has a strange view that I do not agree with, about the quality of a solution to complex problems. The idea is that once you have a solution that is “good enough”, then its done. As long as you can call it “supportable” meaning, you can make a case for why it should not be tossed, then it is a done/acceptable solution. I do NOT agree with this. Perhaps these are the things M$ say when writing their OS, and why it is slower each new version >). I understand that one cannot optimize to infinity, but this is where the reason I’m reading the book comes in. I am programming as a hobby, so I have the luxury of spending however long it takes to find a solution that makes me happy. I do not have to settle for the first “supportable” solution.
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be flaky.
Rating: 2 / 5
One point not brought up by other reviewers: I think the typesetting in this book is really, really poor.
The typefaces look “cool,” but for me, they obscure the text and make me tired. Also I find the font size is too large for a comfortable read. Inner margins are way too small. I am confused how it could be so messed up.
I have tons of books I want to read, unfortunately I will put this one to the end of my list, as the typesetting just doesn’t make for an enjoyable reading experience.
Sorry that I can’t review the content (yet), I really would have preferred that.
Rating: 2 / 5
I picked up this book based on Steve McConnell’s recommendation in Code Complete. Things were slow through the first chapter, but it only got better the further I read. This is another fantastic book by Robert Glass.
Steve McConnell’s original review here on Amazon does an excellent job at summing this book up.
Rating: 5 / 5