Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

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Published Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:45 PM by RoyOsherove
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Comments

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 3:48 PM by Scott Galloway

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

Roy, I agree, this really isn't ideal for junior developers - if you're a relatively experienced developer though, it can prompt you away from slipping into bad habits. I try to reread Code Complete about once a year - and I have to say, I believe my development style is better for it...
Wednesday, January 14, 2004 4:45 PM by Les Matheson

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

Glad to hear you pointing out that Code Complete isn't the silver bullet -- I've fought so many supposed silver-bullets over 20 years that I've forgotten what half of them were. One day I realized that there is a silver bullet indeed! Its the realization that software is complex, requires much skill, experience, etc., and that there is nothing which shortcuts that fact (although there are many things which help). Once that insight sinks in, people start behaving in sane ways.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:04 PM by SBC

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

I still have my first edition of CC from a decade ago and still learn something from it !
About the 'silver bullet' - wasn't there a famous essay that stated there is *NO* silver bullet in software engineering? (I think it was Cox or Brooks..)
Thursday, January 15, 2004 12:35 AM by Leon Bambrick

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

hi Mister Oshergrove - how are you?

i was reading your blog entry - and i thought 'code complete.. where have i heard of that lately?' then i realised - oh - that's the book that i am resting my elbow on at this very minute!

i've been flicking through it lately - all very wise and informative - but like you say - it's not something you're ready for until you've experienced a few disastrous projects first hand.

the 1993 edition i've got could do with some serious updating. as some of the young whipper snappers around the office would say: "it's soooo Old Skool".

cheers
Thursday, January 15, 2004 4:09 AM by Roy Osherove

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

Heh. Old school. I like that :)
Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 AM by SA

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

Your blog entry surprised me about code complete. It is really not as dry as people think. It is one of the few books I refer often for testing and developement. One more book in this line is "The practice of Programming" by Kernighan and Pike.
Yours' is one of the few blogs I read daily. Keep up the good work

Thanks
Friday, January 16, 2004 4:43 AM by Paul Bartlett

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

Though many people know Code Complete, Rapid Development (by the same author) is often overlooked. Personally I found it even more useful, I guess from the point of view of a senior developer trying to figure out how project management works (or doesn't), and how to improve things from both sides of the fence.
Friday, January 16, 2004 4:46 AM by Roy Osherove

# re: Code Complete 2. Good, but not a silver bullet

Paul. Yes, I've read rapid dev as well and found it actually more useful for my day to day practices as a reference. I actually used it for my first brainstorming exercises at one of my first positions as team lead. It helped a lot.